Knoxville — Where the 19th Amendment Was Won, and the 28th Is Coming

Some of you may have noticed that Knoxville, Tennessee was not on our original itinerary. But, as we wended our way first south and then west, we got a note from the Women's Suffrage Museum in that city. They had come across our website and were eager to learn more about us. It didn't take us long to find out why.

Knoxville has a special place in the history of women's rights and the U.S. Constitution. In August, 1920, the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote in our country needed only the agreement of one more state to be ratified. As the legislature considered the matter, ratification failed on two votes.

Then, on the third vote, one of the representatives, 24-year-old Harry T. Burn, who had already announced his intention to vote against ratification, changed his mind. He had gotten a note from his mother, Febb Ensminger Burn, that said, "Hurrah, and vote for suffrage…Don't forget to be a good boy." He was a good boy and did as he was asked, putting the 19th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. Tennessee had put it over the top. The setting for this drama was Knoxville, which today still takes special pride in its signature contribution to the rights of women.

That place in American history is about to be cemented by the opening in a couple of years of the Women's Suffrage Museum, now under construction. The museum is intended to "preserve the suffrage legacy while at the same time propelling our mission forward for generations to come." No wonder they were interested in learning more about our Driving the Vote tour. To the point that, early in our conversations, they were even asking whether we might have an interest in selling our Saxon to the museum when the tour is over, to become a featured exhibit. But, coming back to the present, they were very interested in having us drive north to Knoxville for an event they would put together. Off we went.

Arriving the previous evening, we woke to a bright day in the 20s and a driving wind whipping around the corner. We were truly freezing. We could not imagine that anyone would turn out for the planned event.

And we were dead wrong. The area in front of the site for the new museum was really crowded with people — 35 or 40 — who were really energized…and freezing. But they were prepared — heavy coats, big gloves, furry boots. Their hosts were ready, too, handing out hand warmers. Not only did they stay for the whole program, but, when it was over, they would not let us go. Two local TV stations were there, too.

Our hosts were Wanda Sobieski, President of the Women's Suffrage Museum and Founder of the Suffrage Coalition, and Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, Executive Creative Director of the Women's Suffrage Museum Events & Cultural Center.

Wanda Sobieski welcomed the group and gave a spirited speech reminding the group of the special women's rights heritage of Knoxville and the important contribution the new museum would make in the future, and she introduced the mayor.

Mayor Indya Kincannon welcomed us to Knoxville because, as she said, "We are really excited to carry forward the torch of equality that these women started on this ride so many years ago." Then she read a proclamation in which she recognized Alice and Nell's 10,700-mile transcontinental journey to demand the women's right to vote and the obstacles they publicly overcame — unpaved roads, mechanical failures, social skepticism. She recognized that their historic trip served as a stage for the suffrage movement, engaging citizens in 25 states and directly contributing to the momentum that led to the 19th Amendment in Tennessee.

She recognized that this year marks the 110th anniversary of that expedition, as the restored Saxon car traces those historic steps to advocate for the ERA and the promise of full constitutional equality on this occasion of a special visit from the Golden Flyer II to the future home of the Women's Suffrage Museum. She celebrated the legacy of the women who drove to secure the vote, and she inspired those who continue the journey toward enshrining all women's rights with the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Then she publicly recognized and honored the Driving the Vote for Equality tour and asked the audience to join her. The crowd erupted in applause.

Kathy Bonk spoke about the U.S. Conference of Mayors' very strong resolution to support the ERA. She presented Mayor Kincannon with an ERA Champion Award on behalf of Carolyn Maloney and ERA NOW for all the work she is doing in Knoxville and all the work the U.S. Conference of Mayors is doing. The mayor then signed the Sign4ERA.org petition, as Kathy pointed out that just like the Suffrage Amendment was stalled, the Equal Rights Amendment is also now stalled.

Wanda recognized a handful of elected officials in attendance and commented, "It's still a man's world out there, but we're changing it."

When the program was over, Wanda was interviewed by the local TV stations. People remained as she launched a detailed, fascinating account of the history of the women's rights movement in our country, the place of Knoxville in that history and the national role that will be played by the museum now under construction.

All good. But what was truly remarkable is the fact that, as the TV interview was about to begin, Wanda threw off the warm coat she had been wearing to reveal a 1920s-style dress underneath. She looked very much the part, of course — she looked really wonderful — but we all knew that she had to be freezing. One could not help but feel that there, in front of us, was a woman who had within herself the same determination, the same commitment that two intrepid women who had pioneered this trip had in 1916. It was a sign.

From frozen crowds to bronze suffragists to a mayor's proclamation and a coat dramatically shed for the cameras — Knoxville showed up for the ERA in every sense of the word.