Bridgewater Women Voters Roll, 1920-1951
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
Title: Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951
Collection No.: SC 0082
Creator: Unknown
Extent: ; 1 folders
Language: English
Abstract: Consists of one bound and handwritten ledger listing white women voters registered at Bridgewater Precinct in the Ashby Magisterial District Rockingham County, Virginia.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951, SC 0082, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information: Purchased from Scott Suter (via eBay) in October 2005
Processing Information: In order to streamline the process of applying collegion numbers, Special Collections
staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection
was previously cataloged as SC 3016.
Bio/Historical Note:
On June 4th, 1919 Congress passed the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. This ledger was utilized mostly in 1922, with a few entries back-dated to 1920. This means that the ledger was created very shortly after the success of the women's suffrage movement.
Scope and Content:
This Bridgewater Women Voters Roll, 1920-1951, consists of one bound and handwritten ledger, 15-1/2"x10-1/2". This ledger dates from 1922-1948 with a few entries back-dated to 1920, and one other listing 1951 as a date of transfer. The pre-printed label with handwritten blanks (indicated by italics) on the front of the ledger reads:
"Roll of* Women (White) Voters
Registered at Bridgewater Corp[?] Precinct
Ashby Magisterial District
Rockingham County, Virginia
1948
*White or Colored."
The headings for the roll include: date of registration; number; name; date of birth; age in years; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county and precinct; "Is he exempt from payment of poll tax as a prerequisite to voting?"; If naturalized, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred, when and to what precinct. The earliest registrants listed are Frances Arey and Jessie Beydler in January 1922. The earliest birth date listed is Martha Diehl, who was born 1861. Occupations are varied from predominantly house-wives and house-keepers, to teachers, book keepers, secretaries, stenographers, nurses, students, clerks and seamstresses. The more unusual occupations listed are: Dean of Women, Assistant Post Master, dietician, and dental assistant. Almost all of the registrants are local, or were transferred from a neighboring precinct. All entries are handwritten in blue ink.
Arrangement:
This collection is kept in one folder.
Bibliography:
The National Archives http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/document.html?doc=13&title.raw=19th%20Amendment%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Constitution:%20Women's%20Right%20to%20Vote
Related Material:
Bridgewater Voter Roll, 1902-1948, SC 0081, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Contents:
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
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Compiled by: Julia Merkel