I love Wyoming. I aim my car northbound whenever I have a chance, or whenever I can conjure up an excuse to do so. My home state of Colorado was the second state in the union to pass woman’s suffrage, allowing women to vote. The first to pass such a progressive law was Wyoming Territory in 1869. When our neighbors to the north became a state in 1890, they became the first state to allow women the basic voting privilege, three years before it became law in Colorado. This law also allowed women to hold public office and to serve on a jury. The first woman to vote in Wyoming was Louisa Ann Swain of Laramie, and the first woman registered to vote in Colorado was Eliza Routt, the subject of my book, First Governor, First Lady. She was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame this past spring. [http://www.cogreatwomen.org/]
At one time, Wyoming was called the Suffrage State, a nod to its female political pioneers. Later, the nickname was changed to the Equality State. I wonder if it was changed because the word “suffrage” is disagreeable to some people. When I give presentations about history, the word “suffrage” sometimes evokes yawns from the audience, or causes eyes to droop and glaze over. Unless they are particularly interested in the topic, some folks tune it out. For that reason, I try to avoid using the word “suffrage”. Instead, I prefer to talk about “equal rights”, a more accurate and pleasing description.
When Colorado became a state in 1876, folks in the East were not pleased. According to their newspaper accounts, Colorado was full of bushwhackers and transients, hardly complimentary, nor a solid foundation for statehood. Assuming these were references to the male members of the population, imagine what they thought of our women, well-behaved or not. I prefer to think of our early pioneers in both states as possessing an independent and resourceful spirit, which carries over to this day. Plenty of these people dedicated themselves to building a good life in the new frontier. If you wish to honor the memory of Western women pioneers, exercise your privilege to study the issues and vote.
Joyce Lohse, 9/23/2008
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Joyce Lohse speaks about blogging for Women Out West Magazine
recorded by Deborah Kunzie
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