Nashville Joins Together to Commemorate 19th Amendment Centennial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jonathan Marx, VP of Communications, Nashville Symphony
19thamendmentcentennial@gmail.com
615.687.6564
Spokespeople available upon request

 

More than 40 local organizations involved, with dozens of events taking place through 2020

Nashville, Tenn. (August 16, 2019) – More than 40 Nashville organizations are joining forces to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting the right for women to vote. Tennessee was the 36th and final state to ratify the amendment, and the deciding vote was cast in Nashville.

Participating organizations are planning a series of events to create opportunities for the entire community to participate in dialogue, learning, performances, exhibits and voter education, and to recognize the work it takes to maintain a thriving democracy. Events will run through 2020, with a key focus on the period surrounding the centennial date of the Tennessee ratification on August 18, 1920, and the subsequent certification by the U.S. Secretary of State on August 26, 1920.

“Tennessee played a pivotal role in ratifying the 19th Amendment, and the centennial presents an opportunity to explore this history and engage with our community and visitors in meaningful ways,” says Rebecca Price, President and CEO of Chick History. “This series of special events and performances, presented by Nashville’s diverse and dedicated arts and humanities organizations, businesses, and other partners, welcomes people from across the state and around the country to commemorate this moment in American history and reflect on its continuing legacy on our democracy.”

The list of participating organizations encompasses nonprofit, advocacy, education, government, performing arts and other institutions, including Chick History, Frist Art Museum, League of Women Voters, Metropolitan Historical Commission, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Nashville Opera, Nashville Public Library, Nashville Rep, Nashville Symphony, Nashville Public Television, The Parthenon & Centennial Park Conservancy, Tennessee Historical Society, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tennessee State Museum, Tennessee State Parks, and Vanderbilt University. Local businesses involved in the citywide initiative include the Hermitage Hotel and Parnassus Books.

“Led by a group of dedicated Nashvillians including native Anne Dallas Dudley, our city played an important role in the ratification of the 19th Amendment,” says Mayor David Briley. “We should always be proud of and celebrate our city’s progressive values, and it’s great to see so many local organizations coming together to honor the upcoming anniversary. I encourage everyone to participate in the many events that will take place to commemorate this milestone in American history and to be mindful of the power we all have in shaping our democracy. I look forward to sharing more news regarding this anniversary very soon.”

Visit https://www.visitmusiccity.com/19thamendment for a full listing of events, education resources and participating partner organizations.

Organizations and businesses interested in participating in the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration are encouraged to contact 19thAmendmentCentennial@gmail.com for more information.

 

Upcoming Events Include:

On View Through August 2020
HISTORIC WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE EXHIBIT
Explore a display of The Hermitage Hotel’s private collection of historic artifacts dating from the summer of 1920, when Suffragists were headquartered in the hotel. thehermitagehotel.com

August 16-17, 2019
VOTES FOR WOMEN! COMMEMORATING WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
Join Tennessee State Parks, the State Museum, and the State Library and Archives for two days of activities commemorating the 99th anniversary of the 19th Amendment ratification. The free event on August 16, 10am-4pm at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, includes living history programs, hands- on activities, a walking tour, and more. The Perfect 3.6 Race for Ratification offers a 1-mile course and a 3.6-mile course at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park at 7am on August 17. Register for the race online. tnstateparks.com

August 18, 2019
THE WOMAN’S HOUR: THE GREAT FIGHT TO WIN THE VOTE
The public is invited to the Main Library for a conversation with Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, and Callie Khouri. Taking place on the 99th anniversary of Tennessee’s deciding vote, this event marks the finale to Nashville’s 2019 citywide summer book club and will be held in anticipation of the 2020 opening of Votes for Women, a permanent exhibit at the Main Library dedicated to the legacy of the 19th Amendment. library-nashville.org

October 2 & 8
COMPOSING A MOVEMENT: WOMEN IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Nashville Symphony’s Young People’s Concerts series for schoolchildren celebrates the vital but often forgotten histories of female composers in classical music, with works by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, and Florence Price. Students will learn about the legacy these women created, and path they forged for composers and musicians today. Registration
required. nashvillesymphony.org/ypc

November 21, 2019
BY ONE VOTE: WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH
NPT’s original documentary includes interviews with dozens of experts, including nationally recognized Southern suffrage expert Marjorie Spruill and Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour. wnpt.org

February 17-20, 2020
72 STEPS
Nashville Ballet is excited to partner with TPAC’s HOT Season for Young People to present 72 Steps for school audiences. 72 Steps takes an empowering and celebratory look at the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the vital role Tennessee played in it. tpac.org

February 2020
JOURNEY
Intersection will explore the connections between the 19th Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement through the music and story of Florence Price and excerpts from Nkeiru Okoye’s opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom. This events will kick off Intersection’s 2020 initiative LISTEN, a year-long project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. intersectionmusic.org

April 2020
MUSICA NUEVE
Intersection presents a program in collaboration with the Global Education Center featuring the music of Cuban composers Tania León and Ileana Perez Velazquez. Other works on the program will include the world premiere of a new guitar concerto by Leo Brouwer. Dates and locations to be announced. intersectionmusic.org

May 23-October 4, 2020
WE COUNT: FIRST-TIME VOTERS
We Count: First Time Voters, at Frist Art Museum, honors the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote by highlighting the history of voting in the United States and the first voting experiences of a diverse group of Nashvillians. Individuals will share their stories with artists, who will create visual representations of their voting experiences. The five artists include Beizar Aradini, Megan Kelley, Jerry Bedor Phillips, Thaxton Waters and Donna Woodley. fristartmuseum.org