The League has released a history called Raising Our Voices: League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis: 1960-2022. Nicole Evelina wrote this update of Avis Carlson's book The League of Women Voters in St. Louis: The First 40 Years.
Raising Our Voices: League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis 1960-2022 demonstrates how members of the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis advocated for change during more than six decades of tremendous upheaval. It picks up where Avis Carlson’s early history of the St. Louis League (The First 40 Years) leaves off. It recounts the League’s participation in controversial local and national issues such as desegregation, the Equal Rights Amendment, election and campaign finance reform, and attempts at voter suppression. The book chronicles by decade the everyday work of the League to improve the St. Louis community and protect the rights of Missouri citizens.
The foreword was written by Sydell Shayer who joined the League in 1957. Members who made a difference through the years are profiled, including Lt. Governor Harriett Woods, Rep. Sue Shear and League leaders such as Ida Perkins West, Janet Becker, Barbara Shull, K Wentzien, Lois Bliss, Janet Shipton, Carol Portman, Debby Waite Howard, Agnes Garino, Nancy Bowser, Mickey Croyle, Pat Rich, Linda McDaniel, Kathleen Farrell, Nancy J. Miller, and Louise Wilkerson.
Author Nicole Evelina is a League member and USA Today best-selling author. The project was generously funded by long-time League benefactors. The book is available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for $28.95. A Kindle edition is now available for $2.99. The League office has a limited quantity available for a $20 donation.
Research for this 396-page paperback included oral histories of two dozen Leaguers. Anna Reynolds and Louise Wilkerson taped interviews that were released as St. Louis Suffragists Today Podcasts with an introduction by then LWVSTL President Angie Dunlap.
Agnes Garino: https://youtu.be/Lt012lPhCfU
Sydell Shayer: https://youtu.be/GlbaB0nZtww
Esther Clark: https://youtu.be/patH7EUE0q0
Debby Waite Howard: https://youtu.be/wBX4nqPRfKw
K Wentzien: (49) K Wentzien - YouTube
Linda McDaniel: https://youtu.be/ZsN8RCsUt30
Nancy Thompson: https://youtu.be/zQGEGgIrJdE
You can access the extensive list of sources used for this new history, or take a closer look at the images in the book about League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis history.
You can view or download a PDF of the booklet from the League's 65th Anniversary and the booklet from the 75th Anniversary.
The book received publicity before a Feb. 5, 2023 launch event at the Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves. Just before that, Don Corrigan made an interesting post about the League's work on the environment. Also check out this article about Sydell Shayer and other prominent Jewish members profiled in the book in the St. Louis Jewish Light.
Timeline of Important League of Women Voters Milestones in History
October 1919 - League of Women Voters of Missouri Founded
Nov. 13, 1919 - St. Louis League Founded
Feb. 14, 1920 - League of Women Voters Founded
The U.S. League was officially founded in 1920, just six months before the 19th amendment was ratified and women won the vote. Formed by the suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters.
Aug. 26,1920 - 19th Amendment Ratified
After it passed in the House and Senate, the final hurdle for the 19th Amendment was ratification by the states. As anti-suffrage groups still fought to oppose ratification, suffrage leaders mobilized to continue their pressure campaign in the states. Finally, the Amendment was ratified in Tennessee and officially made law on August 26. Our League celebrated with a variety of activities, including a media event at the Missouri History Museum, St. Louis City and County proclamations, the Missouri Botanical Garden designating a yellow rose as the "Suffrage Rose," and the St. Louis Wheel lit in suffrage colors (purple, yellow and white).
League History - The First 100 Years describes the journey of the League of Women Voters of the U.S.
LWV Products
If you would like to purchase League-branded or suffragist merchandise, go to lwvmo.org.
