[♪♪♪] HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO PBS'S TO THE CONTRARY.

TODAY, WE'RE TAKING YOU ON A TOUR OF THE BELMONT HALL WOMEN'S EQUALITY NATIONAL MONUMENT.

THIS HISTORIC BEAUTIFUL 200-YEAR-OLD HOUSE IN WASHINGTON D.C. WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL MONUMENT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2016.

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE TREASURE TROUGH OF THE HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT WITH ALL KINDS OF DOCUMENTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WENT ON IN THIS HOUSE THAT AFTER YOU WATCH THIS YOU WILL WISH THESE WALLS COULD TALK.

>> THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS HOUSE IS TWO FOLD: FIRST OFF IT'S ONE OF THE HISTORIC PLACES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BECAUSE IT IS THE OLDEST ON CAPITOL HILL.

WE MOVED IN AT 1929.

AND THE 19TH AMENDMENT THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN PASSED AND RATIFIED AND ALICE PAUL AND CONTEMPORARIES MOVED INTO THE BUILDING SO THEY COULD START LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT WRITTEN IN 1923.

>> AND THE HISTORY OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND HOW DID IT END UP BEING DONATED TO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY?

>> SO, THIS IS THE FIFTH AND FINAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY.

THERE WERE FOUR OTHERS BEFORE THIS.

WHEN THEY WERE WORKING ON THE 19TH AMENDMENT THEY FOUND IT IMPORTANT TO BE CLOSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

BOTH OF THOSE STRUCTURES WERE IN LAFAYETTE PARK AND THEY MOVED TO THE BRICK CAPITOL WHERE THE SUPREME COURT IS NOW ACROSS THE STREET FROM HERE.

AND THAT PROPERTY WAS TAKEN FROM EMINENT DOMAIN BUILDING THE SUPREME COURT SO THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THAT PROPERTY MOVED US INTO THIS PROPERTY WHICH IS THE SECOND CONSTITUTION.

>> THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO TAKE THE HOUSE IN THE 1970s TO TEAR IT DOWN WHILE BUILDING THE SENATE HART OFFICE BUILDING NEXT DOOR AND THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY PREVAILED AND IT WAS MADE A NATIONAL LANDMARK ON THE HISTORIC REGISTRY MEANING IT CAN NEVER BEEN TORN DOWN OR REN NATURED WITHOUT FEDERAL APPROVAL.

>> NEWER WOMEN GROUPS FOR SUFFER RAJ AND -- SUFFRAGE AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS WERE FIGHTING TO GET THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT PASSED.

WHAT WAS THE FIGHT LIKE IN THE 70s TO KEEP THIS BUILDING?

>> IN 1913, 1914, 1915 WHEN ALICE PAUL AND THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR SUFFRAGE THEY ARE THE ARABLE ROUSERS.

THEY CAN GOTTEN BACK FROM BRITAIN.

AND THEN THEY CAME HERE AND STARTED DOING WILD AND CRAZY THINGS LIKE PICKETING THE WHITE HOUSE WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN DONE AT THAT POINT.

SO THEY WERE ALWAYS SEEN AS THE UP AND COMERS OR THE NEW PEOPLE ON THE BLOCK.

AND BY THE 1960s AND 70s, THE WOMEN OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY WERE OLDER.

SO ALICE PAUL LIVED AND WORKED IN THE HOUSE UNTIL 1972 AND DIED IN 1977.

BY THEN THEY WERE QUITE OLDER.

YOU HAVE THE YOUNG GROUPS AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE FORMING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AT THAT TIME.

WHEN THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE HOUSE, THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT STOOD UP AND SAID WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

THIS IS THE WOMEN'S VOTING HOUSE.

THIS IS WHERE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN HAS BEEN FOUGHT FOR, FOR DECADES.

>> IT IT WENT FROM BEING A LOBBYING ORGANIZATION TO BECOMING AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

A MUSEUM FOR THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY AND SUFFRAGE.

>> IN 2016 PRESIDENT OBAMA DESIGNATED THIS HOUSE AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE BELMONT PAUL WOMEN'S EQUALITY NATIONAL MON USE MANY.

AND AT THAT POINT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WERE THE OPENERS OF THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY.

WE OWN THE COLLECTION.

WE HAVE OVER 1,000 TEXTILES AND SOME ARE HUGE THEY ARE 8 BY 10 FEET BANER INS USED WHEN THEY MARCHED IN PARADES DOWN TO SNIPPETS OF FABRIC SMUGGLED OUT WHEN THE WOMEN WERE JAILED AND FORCE FED THERE FOR PICKETING THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> YOU SAY WE.

DOES THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY EXIST?

>> YES, WE DO.

OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY IS THIS YEAR AND WE ARE NOT FADING.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY AND WORKING TO CONSERVE THE PRICELESS PIECES IN THE COLLECTION.

>> WHAT IS THE REACTION OF YOUNG WOMEN WHEN THEY SEE THIS COLLECTION.

>> PEOPLE OF ANY AGE WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THEY ARE SHOCKED AT THE FACT THAT WOMEN HAD TO WORK SO HARD TO ACHIEVE THE VOTE AND IT WAS SO RECENT.

IT'S LESS THAN 100 YEARS SINCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WHAT IS SURPRISING IS THAT THEY WERE JAILED AND THEN THEY WENT ON PROTESTS HUNGER STRIKES AND FORCE FED.

THAT IS A VIOLENT HISTORY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED BY THAT.

HOW COULD THAT HAVE HAPPENED HERE IN AMERICA LESS THAN 100 YEARS AGO?

IT SEEMS CRAZY.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE AND YET IT IS.

THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE ARE STUNNED BY, IS THE FACT THAT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT WHILE IT DID PASS WAS NEVER RATIFIED.

THE MOST PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH DO BELIEVE IT IS A FEDERAL AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION AND IT'S NOT.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] JENNIFER, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE BELMONT PAUL WOMEN'S EQUALITY NATIONAL MONUMENT SHOWS US THE COLLECTION.

WE ARE IN THE ROOM NOW THAT CONTAINS MOST OF THE MEMORABILIA AND HISTORICAL ARTICLES HAVING TO DO WITH EARLY SUFFRAGE.

LET'S START WITH THIS CHAIR.

WHY IS IT IN THE HOUSE AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> THIS CHAIR BELONGED TO ELIZABETH KATIE STANTON AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST PUBLIC ACTIVISTS FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE FIRST OFFICIAL CALL FOR A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO VOTE CAME AT THE SENECA FALLS CONVENTION.

AND STANTON AND OTHER WOMEN CAME TOGETHER TO CALL FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

CALL FOR RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, MARRIAGE, OWNING PROPERTY.

THAT WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL CALL TO ACTION FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

>> AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY AND THE ORIGINAL LEADERS OF THE CONVENTION.

>> I THINK ELIZABETH WAS PROBABLY IN HER 30s WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

AND SUSAN ANTHONY AND LUCY STONE AND TUBMAN AND MANY WOMEN WERE PART OF THAT EARLY, EARLY MOVEMENT.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> THIS IS AN 1897 AUTOMATIC LOADING MACHINE.

IT IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINES THAT EXISTS FROM NEW YORK AND IT HAS THE QUESTION SHALL WOMEN BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

AND WOMEN DID NOT RECEIVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN NEW YORK UNTIL 1917.

AND THIS IS SUSAN B. ANTHONY'S DESK AND A GIFT BY HER ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND SHE GAVE IT TO THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S PARTY IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAD DONE.

AND THE NATIONALLEST PARTY WAS HONORING THE PIONEERS OF THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT AND SHOWCASING THE WORK THEY DID AND CARRYING IT FORWARD.

>> AND WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT ALICE PAUL WROTE WHILE AT THIS DESK?

>> THEY REVERED THIS DESK.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH USE IT RECEIVED.

I IMAGINE THAT SHE SAT DOWN AND WORKED ON IT FROM TIME TO TIME AND SAW IT AS A PIECE OF HISTORY.

THE NATIONALIST PARTY WAS NOT ACTIVE IN PRESERVING ITS OWN HISTORY BUT RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTIFACTS AND IT PROBABLY SERVED AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.

THE CONGRESSIONAL UNION OR NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY GREW OUT OF THE BRITISH SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

AND ALICE PAUL AND LUCY BURNS AND AMERICANS GOT THEIR START IN GREAT BRITAIN.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS SOME OF THE PIECES WE USE TO TELL THAT STORY.

>> THEY WERE AMERICAN WOMEN ALICE PAUL WAS STUDYING OVER IN GREAT BRITAIN AND SHE HAPPENED TO MEET THE FOUNDER OF THE [INAUDIBLE] A MORE MILITANT SUFFRAGE ORGANIZATION.

AND ALICE PAUL WAS HOOKED.

SHE SAW A SPEECH AND STARTED WORKING WITH THE GROUP AND WAS ARRESTED THREE TIMES WHILE OVER IN GREAT BRITAIN AND WENT ON HUNGER STRIKES THERE AS WELL.

SEVERAL OF THE OTHER KEY FIGURES WERE ALSO JAILED WHILE THERE.

THE BRITISH SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT WAS ABOUT ACTION NOW.

AND IT WAS VERY MILITANT.

THERE WERE ROCKS THROWN THROUGH WINDOWS AND PROTESTS IN PARLIAMENT.

THERE WERE FIRES SET THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY VIOLENT MOVEMENT.

A WOMAN DIED WHEN SHE RAN AT THE KING'S HORSE.

IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE UNITED STATES SUFFRAGISTS SAW AS NECESSARY TO BRING TO THE UNITED STATES TO JUMP START THE MOVEMENT.

>> WAS THERE EVER ROCK THROWING OR FIRES SET IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> NOT HERE.

WELL, THEY DID BURN PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECHES IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE BUT IT WAS MUCH MORE PEACEFUL THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT BRITAIN.

THEY DID NOT BRING ALL OF THE RADICAL TACTICS.

>> SHOW US WHAT ARE THE MOST ONE OR TWO MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS.

>> THIS IS A CALLING WOMEN TO A DEPUTATION HELD RIGHT OUTSIDE OF PARLIAMENT.

WHERE THEY COULD LOBBY FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND THIS PARTICULAR DEPUTATION WAS NOVEMBER 22, I THINK IT WAS 1907 OR 1908 AND THE DAY BEFORE DAYS BEFORE A HUGELY VIOLENT OUTBURST ERUPTED.

AND MANY WOMEN AND MEN WERE HURT.

THOSE FIRES WERE SET.

I MEAN THE CITY WAS IN CHAOS AS A RESULT OF WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR DEPUTATION U THIS IS THE MOST ICONIC PIECE IN OUR COLLECTION CALLED THE JAUL DOOR PIN.

ALICE PAUL GAVE ONE OF THESE TO EVERY WOMAN IMPRESSED -- IMPRISONED IN THE UNITED STATES.

100 PINS WERE GIVEN OUT TO WOMEN IN PRISON AND SHE GOT THE IDEA BECAUSE SHE RECEIVED A PIN WHILE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

AND SHE BROUGHT THAT IDEA HERE TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT EXIST IN MUSEUMS TODAY.

ON MARCH THIRD, 1913, THE DAY BEFORE PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON'S INAUGURATION ALICE PAUL AND MEMBERS STAGED THE PARADE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE IDEA WAS THAT THEY WOULD DRAW AS MANY CROWDS AWAY FROM THE PRESIDENT ARRIVING AT UNION STATION THAT DAY.

THE PARADE STARTED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

AND YOU CAN SEE SHE IS JOAN OF ARC IN HER GRASH THERE AND IT WAS TO END ON THE STEPS OF THE TREASURY AND IT WAS A PAGEANT THAT TALKED ABOUT THE IDEALS OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM AND THAT IS HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BUT IT DID NOT WORKOUT THAT WAY.

5,000 WOMEN MARCHING DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

AND THE CROWDS THAT WERE TO ATTEND THE INAUGURATION ARE SURROUNDING THEM.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

AND THE PARADE ENDS IN VIOLENCE.

PEOPLE THREW THINGS AND CALLED NAMES AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE CROWDS CONVERGED ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

THE FORT MEYER CAVALRY HAD TO BE CALLED IN BECAUSE THE POLICE PRESENCE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH THAT DAY.

AND MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE POLICE CHIEF WAS FIRED AS A RESULT OF THE PARADE.

WHAT IS CRITICAL ABOUT THIS PIECE THIS WAS THE TURNING POINT IN THE U.S. SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

>> THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT WAS PRETTY MUCH ARCH ENEMIES ARE WILSON?

>> HE DEFINITELY WAS NOT AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER AND WAS NOT A VOCAL SUPPORTER.

HE ENDED UPTURNING HIS ATTENTION TO SUFFRAGE AND ACTIVELY WORKING TO GET PASSED AS A WAR MEASURE IN THE LATER PART OF THE TEENS.

HIS REFUSAL TO MEET WITH THE WOMEN IN LATE 1916 WAS WHAT SPARKED THE PICKETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 1917.

THESE ARE AMONG 1500 TEXTILES WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION AND THIS CAPE AND HAT WERE WORN FOR PAGEANTS AND PARADES.

SOME OF THE BIGGER SPECTACLES THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD HAVE STAGED.

AND YOU WILL NOTICE THESE ARE PURPLE, WHITE AND GOLD THE OFFICIAL COLORS OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY.

GOLD.

YOU COULD WEAR IT EITHER WAY.

AND THE PURPLE STOOD FOR THE GLORY OF WOMAN HOOD AND THE WHITE HOME IN POLITICS AND THE GOLD FOR THE CROWN OF VICTORY.

>> PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THE HAT.

WAS IT THE STYLE OF THE DAY?

OR DID THEY MAKE THIS SPECIFICALLY FOR ONE OF THE PAGEANTS?

>> THEY DID.

THEY WOULD HAVE MADE IT SPECIFICALLY FOR ONE OF THEIR PAGEANTS OR PARADES.

SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE STYLE WITH WHATEVER THEY WERE INTERPRETING.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR HAT IS A LITTLE BIT MACHINE SEWN BUT HASTILY PUT TOGETHER.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE BACK OF IT HOW QUICKLY THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WHEREAS THE CAPE IS MUCH MORE WELL MADE IT'S MACHINE MADE.

BUT THESE WERE NOT NECESSARILY MEANT TO LAST.

THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DONE QUICKLY AND TO GET AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

THEY WOULD CREATE PAGEANTS AND PLAYS FOR BIG EVENTS.

DURING THE MARCH 3, 1913 PARADE THEY HAD A PAGEANT THAT CAPPED THINGS OFF WHEN THEY INTRODUCED THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IN 1923 THEY DID IT AT SENECA FALLS AS A TRIBUTE AND HELD A BIG PAGEANT AND PLAY AT THAT TIME ASSAULTING THE IDEALS OF THE MOVEMENT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS BANNER.

Mr. PRESIDENT WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IS A COMMON SLOGAN THEY WOULD PUT ON THEIR BANDERS.

THE DIRECT CALL TO ACTION AND SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT IN THE PICKET TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE WOMEN BEGAN PICKETING AFTER THEY REFUSED A MEETING BY WOODROW WILSON AND THIS IS THE FIRST SLOGAN THAT IS USED AS THEY STAND IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> AND PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THIS BANNER.

>> THIS IS THE DRAFT DAY PICKET BANNER IN A PARADE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1917.

AND THIS PARTICULAR BANNER IS RARE IN OUR COLLECTION.

WE DON'T HAVE MANY OF THE BANNERS THAT WERE MUCH MORE DIRECT IN CALLING THE PRESIDENT OUT ON THE HYPOCRISY ON FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY ABROAD.

AND BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE BANNERS WERE DESTROYED.

IN APRIL OF 1917, THE UNITED STATES ENTERED WORLD WAR I.

AND AS YOU MAY REMEMBER WOMEN PUT THE MOVEMENT ON HOLD DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND ALICE PAUL WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT WHEN THE UNITED STATES ENTERED WHERE WAR 1.

BY JUNE OF 1917 THE PICKETS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WERE SEEN AS UNPATRIOTIC AND THREATENING.

AND THE BANNERS BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE.

PEOPLE STARTED GATHERING A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND RYE YACHTS STARTED TO BREAK OUT.

AND WOULD THROW THINGS AND THE BANNERS WOULD BE TORN FROM THEIR HANDS AND POLICE BEGAN ARRESTING THE WOMEN FOR OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC AND THEY WERE TAKEN TO JAIL AND SENTENCED FROM THREE DAYS TO SIX MONTHS.

BUT THESE -- THIS WAS CONSISTENT FROM 1917 TO 1919.

THESE PICKETS CONTINUED OFF AND ON DURING THAT PERIOD.

AND ALICE PAUL WAS ARRESTED HERSELF IN OCTOBER OF 1917 AND SHE WAS PUT IN AN ASYLUM BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED SHE HAD A PERSECUTION MANIA AGAINST WILSON.

>> THE WOMEN DID SUFFER.

AND THIS PICTURE IS ABOUT THAT.

THE WOMEN GOING ON HUNGER STRIKES WERE FIGHTING AGAINST THE CONDITIONS WHICH THEY WERE BEING PUT.

AND DORA WAS ONE OF THE OLDER WOMEN FIGHTING FOR SUFFRAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE SHE HAD GONE ON A HUNGER STRIKE AND BEEN FORCE FED.

AND SOME OF OUR PICTURES SHOW WOMEN BEING WHEELED OUT ON STRETCHERS.

SO I MEAN VERY, VERY POWERFUL AND CERTAINLY VERY NEGATIVE ATTENTION BEING DRAWN TO THE FACT THAT NOBODY WAS DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THIS SITUATION.

>> JENNIFER WHAT ARE THESE FOR?

>> THIS IS THE CONGRESSIONAL VOTING CARDIN DECKS.

FOR EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, THE NATIONAL PARTY KEPT A CARD OR SERIES OF CARDS ON THE MEN.

IT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE DEADLY POLITICAL INDEX.

AND IT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR LOBBYING TACTICS TODAY.

THEY KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE GUYS WHETHER THEY WERE VOTING FOR THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT OR LIKELY TO BE REELECTED BECAUSE WHY SPEND TIME ON SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT GOING TO GET REELECTED.

>> I WANT TO READ YOU ONE.

>> AND TELL US THE SENATOR AND WHERE HE WAS FROM THE DATE.

>> FRED DOMINIC FROM SOUTH CAROLINA HE WAS A DEMOCRAT, HIS POSITION ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IS VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED.

THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW WAS TO SECURE A HEARING ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND HE WAS INTERRUED BY MARY WILL BURN.

AND HER COMMENT ABOUT HIM IS SO VIOLENTLY OPPOSED AS TO BE HOSE NIL HIS ATTITUDE.

ALMOST INSULTING IN THE INSINUATION THAT WE ARE ABNORMAL WOMEN BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE PROTECTED AS WE SHOULD BE.

QUOTE THE NORMAL WOMAN KNOWS HER PLACE UNQUOTE HE SAYS.

THERE IS NO HOPE FOR HIM I AM SURE AND HE SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

OPPOSES THE AMENDMENT ON THE GROUNDS THE STATE'S RIGHTS AND THE PRINCIPLE OF THE EVERLASTING INFERIORITY OF WOMEN.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> WE ARE ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND TELL ME ABOUT THIS COLLECTION.

>> THE HOUSE WAS NOT ONLY HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY AND A BOARDING HOUSE FOR MANY MEMBERS.

ALICE PAUL LIVED HERE FROM 1929 UNTIL 1972 AND MANY OF THE MEMBERS USED THIS AS A PLACE TO STAY WHEN THEY WERE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

LOBBYING FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

>> AND SO TELL ME ABOUT THE COLLECTION?

>> NINA WAS THE OFFICIAL CARTOONIST FOR THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY AND DREW FROM 1914 TO 1927.

AND HER WORK APPEARED WEEKLY ON THE COVERS OF THE SUFFRAGIST AND EQUAL RIGHTS THE QEKLY PUBLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY.

SHE CHANGED THE WAY WOMEN WERE PORTRAYED.

OFTENTIMES WHEN MALE ARTISTS WERE DEPICTING WOMEN IN THE CARTOONS THE WOMEN WERE SEEN AS HAGGERED AND UGLY AND DEFORMED IN SOME WAY.

AND SHE CHANGED THAT.

SHE CREATED A FIGURE THAT SHE CALLED THE ALLENNER GIRL A WOMAN IN CONTROL, INDEPENDENT AND INTELLIGENT AND IS READY TO THROW HER HAT IN THE RING AND THIS IMAGE IS CALL OUR HAT IS IN THE RING.

AND IT WAS DONE IN 1916 AND YOU SEE HER STRONG STANCE AND SHE IS FEMININE.

SHE IS DRAWN THE WAY SHE WOULD HAVE LOOKED.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE POLITICIANS IN THE CORNER THEY ARE GIVEN THE DEFORMITY.

AND THE POLITICAL CARTOONS OF THE PERIOD ON THEIR HEAD.

ALLENDERS WORK IS LIKE WORK OF TODAY.

SHE WOULD TIE INTO CURRENT EVENTS.

SO WOMEN PICKETING THE WHITE HOUSE, SHE WOULD SHOW WOMEN PICKETING THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE BANNERS AND SHOW THE WORDS THAT THEY WERE USING ON THE BANNERS.

AND SHE USED THE DONKEY AND THE ELEPHANT AND UNCLE SAM IN A LOT OF HER WORK.

AND SHE DEPICTED ISSUES OF WAR, POVERTY, CHILD LABOR.

[♪♪♪] HERE WE ARE IN THE ARCHIVES IN THE BASEMENT THE UNDER BELLY OF THE BUILDING IF YOU WILL.

AND YOU HAVE RECORDS AND BOOKS STORED HERE.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE TAKEN OUT TO SHOW US.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE FLORENCE BAIRD LIBRARY THE FIRST FEMINIST LIBRARY IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE BOOKS AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXTILES, CARTOONS, ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS, RECORDS ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN THIS SPACE.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN THIS SPACE FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY EARLY SUFFRAGISTS LIKE LUCY STONE AND WE HAVE MORE CARTOONS AND CARTOONS BY OTHERS AS WELL.

ON THE TABLE I HAVE A SMATTERING OF POLITICAL CARTOONS.

AND THEN THE ONE THING WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT IS THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S PARTY.

EQUAL RIGHTS WAS THE PUBLICATION FROM 1923-1954.

AND THE SUFFRAGIST WAS THE PUBLICATION FROM 1914-1921.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE TELEGRAMS?

>> THESE ARE GREAT.

I JUST PUT A FEW THINGS ON THE TABLE THAT SHOW THE SUPPORT FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

SO I HAVE A TELEGRAM ON THE TABLE THAT WAS SENT BY NELSON ROCKEFELLER TO IT SAYS I AM PLEASED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM THE STAND I HAVE TAKEN CONSISTENTLY IN SUPPORT OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL WOMEN.

>> AND THE TELEGRAM TO -- MRS. ALICE PAUL?

>> ALICE PAUL FROM GEORGE ROMNEY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.

AND THE NATIONALIST PARTY WOULD REPRODUCE THE TELEGRAMS AND SEND THEM OUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP TO SHOW THAT THEY DID HAVE SUPPORT AROUND THE ERA BECAUSE IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT THEN.

AND SO THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR MEMBERS HAD MATERIALS TO DISTRIBUTE IN SUPPORT OF.

ALSO THEY WOULD ASK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SIGN ON IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT SO THEY WOULD DO THINGS LIKE THIS PIECE HERE.

SAYS IF ELECTED TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE I PROMISE TO VOTE AND WORK ACTIVELY FOR THE IMMEDIATE SUBMISSION TO THE STATES OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> AND THEY GOT CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS TO SIGN THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL PART OF THE LOBBYING STRATEGIES.

THESE ARE SPECIFIC PARTICULARLY AROUND THE MOVEMENT FOR ABOLITION AND THIS IS A BOOK PUBLISHED IN 1898. LETTERS ON THE SEXES AND THE CONDITION OF WOMEN.

AND THIS WAS A COMPILATION OF WRITINGS BY MARY ANNE PARKER AND PUT TOGETHER BY SUFFRAGIST SARA GRIMKEY.

THIS IS ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN SHE WAS ACTIVE DURING THE WAR AND I BELIEVE SHE WAS A SPY AND SO THIS IS A REPORT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE SHE WAS TRYING TO RECEIVE SOME MONEY FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN THAT EFFORT.

BUT WE HAVE A PIECE IN OUR COLLECTION RIGHT NOW ON LOANS SO THAT WE CAN SHOWCASE HARRIET TUBMAN IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SHE MAY BE ON THE $20 BILL.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE OF THE FASCISTS WHICH WHICH IS FABULOUS.

AND ONE OTHER PIECE OF OUR COLLECTION IN PARTICULARLY SPECIAL IS OUR SCRAPBOOK COLLECTION.

WE HAVE 70 SCRAPBOOKS THAT CHRONICLED THE MEDIA ATTENTION AROUND THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT FROM 1909 UNTIL 1933.

>> DO YOU EXPECT TO BE GETTING MORE MATERIAL OVER THE YEARS?

>> WE DO.

WE THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TERLD OUT THERE IN PRIVATE HANDS THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO DONATE TO AN INSTITUTION LIKE OURS.

IN 1920 THERE IS A BANNER CALLED THE RATIFICATION BANNER AND IS FILLED WITH STARS FOR EVERY STATE THAT RATIFIED SUFFICIENT RAMP THEY WOULD FILL A STAR ON IT.

AND THERE IS AN IMAGE OF ALICE PAUL UNFURLING THE BANNER.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO T. >> WHAT MAKES YOU THINK IT'S STILL AROUND?

MAYBE IT GOT BURNED?

>> IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNCOMMON FOR WOMEN AT THAT TIME TO TAKE IT HOME STORE IT IN THE ATTIC.

THE NATIONALIST PARTY DID NOT REALLY KEEP ITS MEMBERS FROM PULLING THINGS OUT OF THE ARCHIVES OR TAKING TEXTILES WITH THEM.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT TURNS UP IN SOMEBODY'S ATTIC AND WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT AT ESTATE SALES AND ALL THE REST OF IT TO SEE MAYBE ONE DAY IT WILL TURN UP.

>> SO IF ANY OF OUR VIEWERS FIND THAT BANNER, IT COULD END UP BACK AT THE BELMONT PAUL WOMEN'S EQUALITY NATIONAL MONUMENT.

[♪♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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