Woman Suffrage Fan

Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association

Paper fans were a popular method of advertising in the early 20th century. This one was issued by the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association to support a 1915 state referendum to give Massachusetts women the vote. The map highlights the states in which women already had the vote - Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Kansas, Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and Nevada. The reverse of the fan reads, “Keep Cool!/There will be nothing/to worry about after we get/VOTES FOR WOMEN/Election Day November 2.” The Massachusetts referendum failed. Massachusetts women did not gain the vote in until the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920.