Massachusetts "Blue Bird" Votes for Women Sign

View Similar Items

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914

Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" & "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example

John F. Kennedy Signed Senate Menu Collage

"Equal suffrage for Michigan in 1916" Advertising Fan for the Bissell Company

George H. W. Bush Signed and Inscribed 1989 Inaugural Photograph

Colorful Civil War Recruitment Broadside for the "Manhattan Rifles"

Hand-Sewn 13 Star Cornflower Blue 32 Foot Commission Pennant circa 1845-1865

Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910

36 Star Antique American Flag, Cornflower blue Canton, circa 1864-1867, Nevada

Duke & Duchess of Windsor Sotheby's New York Memorabilia Auction Catalogue Book

"Rally Freemen!..." Civil War Recruitment Broadside

Franco-American Textile with the Image of an Eagle Holding the American and Flag

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 6

Massachusetts "Blue Bird" Votes for Women Sign

About the Item

MASSACHUSETTS "BLUE BIRD" VOTES FOR WOMEN SIGN, MADE FOR THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN IN 1915 One of the most attractive and unusual pieces of memorabilia from the American suffrage movement is a figural tin sign, printed to resemble a songbird, and carrying the message: "Votes for Women Nov. 2." Known in suffrage enthusiast circles as the "bluebird," this iconic object has the very nice feature of being signed along the edge of the tail by both the organization and the specific individuals who commissioned them: "Mass. Woman Suffrage Ass'n. Gertrude H. Leonard Teresa A. Crowley." These are accompanied by the Union Bug, which shows that the sign was produced in New York City by members of Local No.1 of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America (ALA), a labor union formed in 1915 to serve the interests of workers in the printing trade. Made in 1915, these signs were part of a push for a state referendum that would have amended were intended to be tacked up or hung wherever the recipient chose to spread the word, such as in windows, porch, and signposts, lamp posts and telephone poles. An example of this sign is featured on the cover of "Women's Suffrage Memorabilia" by Ken Florey (2013, McFarland & Co., North Carolina). It also appears and is described on p. B6. Gertrude Newell was elected chairman of the organization in 1913 and was replaced by Crowley, who served until 1917. Brief biographies of the two women can be found in Harvard University's Women's Rights Collection. These read as follows: "Gertrude Halladay Leonard (b. 1868) became interested in the suffrage cause in 1905 and for the next 12 years gave an increasing amount of time to the suffrage movement in Massachusetts. From 1912-1917 she was chairman of the State Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA) and was virtually acting president, as Alice Stone Blackwell was often unable to fulfill her duties in that office. She served as chairman of the first Boston Suffrage Parade. Along with Theresa Crowley, Mrs. Leonard was greatly responsible for the work of lobbying in the state legislature in favor of a suffrage bill. When the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, Leonard resigned her chairmanship in order to spend the next few months in France as a Red Cross volunteer. From 1925-1926 she worked as an organizer for the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association." As an Irish Catholic, Teresa Crowley (b. 1874, Wakefield, MA, d. 1930) was unusual among her peers in the NAWSA, most of whom were upper-middle-class Protestants. "[She] was a lawyer, amateur actress and suffragist. As chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, she led several successful campaigns against anti-suffrage politicians and is remembered as one of the leading orators of the suffrage movement." Membership in the MWSA swelled from 25,000 in 1912 to 250,000 in 1915. This year was significant to the Suffrage campaign because, on November 2nd of that year, male voters in Massachusetts defeated a state referendum that could have amended the U.S. Constitution to give all women of the state the right to vote. This was a repeat of a similar result in 1895. The only community in the state of Massachusetts to vote in favor of suffrage was Tewksbury with a vote of 149 to 148. Statewide, only 35.5% voted in favor of the measure. Massachusetts was among four eastern states where the issue came to a vote, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It was unsuccessful in all four states. Mounting: The bird is displayed in a deep shadowbox molding that is very dark brown, almost black in color, with red undertones and highlights and a step-down profile. To this, a flat molding with a distressed gold finish was added as a liner. The glazing is anti-reflective, crystal clear Museum Glass. Condition: There are rust stains around two small holes, made by nails that held it to a stationary object, as well as along the outer edge of the bird's profile. There are small scratches and dents, minor and affecting the presentation very little. There is moderate fading, but the overall presentation is wonderful. Frame size (H x L): Approximate 17" x 8.5" Flag size (H x L): 11.75" x 3.25".

Dimensions:
Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Metal
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1910-1919
Date of Manufacture:
1915
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: ws-1101stDibs: LU849718745072

More From This Seller

View All

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914

Located in York County, PA

IRONSTONE PLATE WITH "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT, MADE JOHN MADDOCK & SONS FOR SUFFRAGIST ALVA BELMONT FOR MARBLE HOUSE, HER FAMOUS ESTATE IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, CIRCA 1914: Porcelain objects related to the Suffrage movement are extremely scarce. The most celebrated of all American suffrage dinnerware consists of a service of white ironstone, commissioned by Alva Belmont,* prominent Newport, Rhode Island, socialite. Belmont was the founder of a pro-suffrage group called the Political Equality Association. According to Suffrage memorabilia expert Ken Folley, "There are at least eight different examples known in this design, including a cup and saucer, a lunch or dinner plate, a salad or bread plate, a berry bowl, a soup bowl, a celery dish...

Category

Vintage 1910s English Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Porcelain

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914

Price Upon Request

Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" & "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example

Located in York County, PA

ENGLISH PORCELAIN SUFFRAGETTE PLATE WITH "DEEDS, NOT WORDS" AND "VOTES FOR WOMEN" SLOGANS, ONE-OF-A-KIND AMONG KNOWN EXAMPLES, CA 1905-1918 English porcelain plate, made for the Women's Suffrage movement in the U.K. One-of-a-kind among presently known examples, this wonderful Arts & Crafts design features a green, frog-like pattern around the border, surrounding violet and green or daisies, on a polka dot green background. Interspersed between the flowers are the words "Votes for Women" and, in Latin, the phrase "Facta non Verba...

Category

Early 20th Century English Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Porcelain

Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" & "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example

$4,900

Votes for Women Parade Textile in Purple and Gren

Located in York County, PA

VOTES FOR WOMEN PARADE TEXTILE IN PURPLE AND GREEN, OF A TYPE WORN AS SASHES AND WAVED AS NARROW PARADE BANNERS, MADE IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT BY CALHOUN PRESS FOR THE WOMEN'S POLITI...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Votes for Women Parade Textile in Purple and Gren

Price Upon Request

Women's Suffrage Movement Pennant w/ Bold Color, Votes For Women Text, 1912-1919

Located in York County, PA

American Suffrage movement pennant, with a standard, triangular taper. Made of yellow felt, with tapered letters that read simply: "Votes for Women," bo...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

Women's Suffrage Movement Pennant w/ Bold Color, Votes For Women Text, 1912-1919

Price Upon Request

American Suffrage Movement 'Votes for Women" Pennant, circa 1912-1920

Located in York County, PA

AMERICAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT PENNANT WITH "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT, IN A LARGE SIZE AND WITH ATTRACTIVE PATINA FROM AGE AND OBVIOUS USE, circa 1912-1920 American Suffrage movement penna...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

American Suffrage Movement 'Votes for Women" Pennant, circa 1912-1920

Price Upon Request

"Equal suffrage for Michigan in 1916" Advertising Fan for the Bissell Company

Located in York County, PA

"EQUAL SUFFRAGE FOR MICHIGAN IN 1916," ADVERTISING FAN FOR THE BISSELL 'CYCO BALL BEARING CARPET SWEEPER,' COMMISSIONED BY ANNA BISSELL (1846-1934), AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE CEO Oriental-made, twill-woven silk fan with gilt lettering that reads : "Bissell's 'Cyco Ball Bearing Carpet Sweeper' makes sweeping easy," set within an interesting, open, geometric design. A purposefully curved, paper label beneath was applied by the "Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, Kalamazoo, 405 So. Burdick St.," whose byline is along the bottom. On it, a terrific message reads: "OVER 100,000 WOMEN pay taxes in Michigan on property assessed at $177,596,938. In 1910 OVER 175,000 MICHIGAN WOMEN signed a petition sent to Congress asking for Equal Suffrage. 247,373 MICHIGAN MEN voted...

Category

Vintage 1910s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

"Equal suffrage for Michigan in 1916" Advertising Fan for the Bissell Company

$3,250

Vintage 1950s American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

John F. Kennedy Signed Senate Menu Collage

$8,160 Sale Price

20% Off

George H. W. Bush Signed and Inscribed 1989 Inaugural Photograph

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Presented is a wonderful inscribed color photo of the inauguration of George H.W. Bush as the 41st President of the United States held on January 20, 1989. The inauguration marked the commencement of the four-year term of George H. W. Bush as President and Dan Quayle as Vice President. The photograph is signed and inscribed to Ron Wade, who once served as a White House page for President Nixon. Inscription reads, "To Ron Wade/ Sincerely /George Bush" Mr. Wade then scripted a note on the verso of the photo, stating "Signed as President, week of 6-1/-89". The inauguration of George H. W. Bush as the 41st president of the United States was held at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the 51st inauguration. Chief Justice William Rehnquist administered the presidential oath of office to Bush and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor administered the vice presidential oath of office to Quayle. Bush was the first sitting vice president to be inaugurated as president (not due to his predecessor's death or resignation) since Martin Van Buren...

Category

Vintage 1980s American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

George H. W. Bush Signed and Inscribed 1989 Inaugural Photograph

$895

Duke & Duchess of Windsor Sotheby's New York Memorabilia Auction Catalogue Book

Located in Dublin, Ireland

This is a two-volume boxed set of sale catalogues each with 550 pages which were produced by Sotheby's Auction House in New York in 1997 for the disposal of the effects of the Duke a...

Category

20th Century British Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Duke & Duchess of Windsor Sotheby's New York Memorabilia Auction Catalogue Book

$559 / set

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat in Original Box

Located in North Hollywood, CA

AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy wool Fez hat with original box. Al Malaikah, legion of Honor vintage fez hat from the Los Angeles ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Moorish Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat in Original Box

$495

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat

Located in North Hollywood, CA

AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy wool Fez hat. Al Malaikah, legion of Honor vintage fez hat from the Los Angeles Al Malaikah Shrine...

Category

Late 20th Century American Moorish Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat

$450

Sensational Early 19th Century Chapeau De Gendarme Hat Box

Located in Round Top, TX

A sensational early 19th century French Chapeau De Gendarme - officer's hat box in leather. Such a nostalgic shape!! A great accent piece for any b...

Category