Women and the ballot box

On March 27, Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum looks at the women's vote and its impact on America

[March 18, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — Historians, elected officials and political scientists will meet at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to celebrate Women's History Month by discussing women's right to vote and the challenges facing female candidates in the past and now.

The free event takes place March 27 at the presidential museum's Union Theater from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

American women spent decades fighting for the right to vote before finally achieving a nationwide victory in 1920. They argued women voters would make a better world — one where children would be shielded from hard labor, women would be protected from physical abuse, and wars would be less common.

Did women's suffrage lead to progress on those issues? What issues are most important to female voters today? What challenges do women face now when they run for office?

Those questions and more — including Illinois' historic rejection of the Equal Rights Amendment — will be discussed at the March 27 round-table event.

Reservations can be made by selecting "Special event tickets and reservations" at www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov or by calling 217-558-8934.

Participating are Naomi Lynn, former chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield; Holly Kent, a history professor at UI-Springfield; Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie; Joan Walters, state budget director during the Edgar administration; state Rep. Kay Hatcher; and more.

The moderator will be Eileen Mackevich, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The event is co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the University of Illinois at Springfield History Department.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]