Event
Anita Pollitzer: Foot Soldier for Equality
Fee:
Free.Dates & Times
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Description
The fight for women's equality had famous leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul. But, as with many social movements, their achievements were possible because of the organizers and foot soldiers who worked day after day for sometimes distant goals. Several thousands of women became members of the National Woman's Party and marched in suffrage parades, lobbied Congress, and traveled the country talking suffrage and equal rights. Come and learn about one such foot soldier, Anita Pollitzer. In 1918, when Anita was just 23 years old, she presented herself to Alice Paul at NWP headquarters to join the fight for women's suffrage. Alice Paul put Anita to work immediately, telling her to go straight to the Capitol and start persuading Congressmen to pass the women's suffrage amendment. Anita jumped right in and became a skilled lobbyist and campaigner. She was in Nashville fighting for the final victory when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment. Anita continued to work with the NWP into the 1960s, especially in the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment. The hour-long program will be presented by Patty Pollitzer, a valued volunteer at Belmont-Paul and Anita's great-niece.
Reservation or Registration: No
Image Gallery
National Woman's Party collection, Library of Congress