Mary Eliza Project
@maryelizaproject.bsky.social
that time in 1920 when 56k+ women in Boston claimed their right to vote
history, data, maps, stories
linktr.ee/maryelizaproject
history, data, maps, stories
linktr.ee/maryelizaproject
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The Mary Eliza Project is a collaborative public humanities initiative that uses historic records to illuminate diverse women’s political engagement in Boston. We focus on the historical moment of 1920. 🧵
On #NationalChocolateDay, we are spotlighting two new voters who worked as chocolate dippers for the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). Best known for Necco Wafers, the company occupied a complex in South Boston from 1902 to 1927.
October 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
On #NationalChocolateDay, we are spotlighting two new voters who worked as chocolate dippers for the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). Best known for Necco Wafers, the company occupied a complex in South Boston from 1902 to 1927.
In 1920, Lilian T. Piotti (Moynihan) served on an executive committee of a Memorial Service featuring the Boston Italian Symphony in “Aid of Free Italian Home for Children.” The event was planned as the “largest Italian demonstration ever staged in this city.” Image: Boston Post, Sat. June 5, 1920
October 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
In 1920, Lilian T. Piotti (Moynihan) served on an executive committee of a Memorial Service featuring the Boston Italian Symphony in “Aid of Free Italian Home for Children.” The event was planned as the “largest Italian demonstration ever staged in this city.” Image: Boston Post, Sat. June 5, 1920
For #PolishAmericanHeritageMonth, we are spotlighting Rae M. (Burnce) Davidson, who registered to vote on October 6, 1920, as a resident of East Boston. Image from The Boston City Archives
October 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
For #PolishAmericanHeritageMonth, we are spotlighting Rae M. (Burnce) Davidson, who registered to vote on October 6, 1920, as a resident of East Boston. Image from The Boston City Archives
When Eva Ryerson Ludgate registered to vote on October 13, 1920, she gave her occupation as "Congregational Minister." One newspaper account claimed that she was the youngest ordained Congregational minister in the United States! Image: Library of Congress
October 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
When Eva Ryerson Ludgate registered to vote on October 13, 1920, she gave her occupation as "Congregational Minister." One newspaper account claimed that she was the youngest ordained Congregational minister in the United States! Image: Library of Congress
On the evening of Saturday, October 9, 1920, Lili Shapiro registered to vote at the North End's Prince Street School in Boston. Lili was an artist who designed and crafted original ceramics. She was also an active participant in the North End’s Saturday Evening Girls. Image: Historic New England
October 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
On the evening of Saturday, October 9, 1920, Lili Shapiro registered to vote at the North End's Prince Street School in Boston. Lili was an artist who designed and crafted original ceramics. She was also an active participant in the North End’s Saturday Evening Girls. Image: Historic New England
Over 1K of the 1920 New Boston Women Voters worked as Teachers and/or Instructors. #WorldTeachersDay
October 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Over 1K of the 1920 New Boston Women Voters worked as Teachers and/or Instructors. #WorldTeachersDay
For #ClassicalMusicMonth, we feature two new voters, Jessie Nute Bennett and Barbara (Loewenstein) Einstein, who performed as soloists in classical music concerts throughout Boston. Image: The Boston Globe, Mon, Jan 08, 1923, Page 4.
September 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
For #ClassicalMusicMonth, we feature two new voters, Jessie Nute Bennett and Barbara (Loewenstein) Einstein, who performed as soloists in classical music concerts throughout Boston. Image: The Boston Globe, Mon, Jan 08, 1923, Page 4.
As many of us head back to school, we recognize two of the nine voters who worked at High School for the Practical Arts in Roxbury. The school opened in 1913 to teach girls home and work skills, including nursing and home economics. Image from Boston Women’s
Heritage Trail
Heritage Trail
September 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM
As many of us head back to school, we recognize two of the nine voters who worked at High School for the Practical Arts in Roxbury. The school opened in 1913 to teach girls home and work skills, including nursing and home economics. Image from Boston Women’s
Heritage Trail
Heritage Trail
Why was this woman’s voter registration crossed out? When Josephine Bowen tried to register to vote in Boston on September 8, 1920, her attempt was rejected because of the clerk’s note: “no papers.” At that time in the United States, a woman’s citizenship status was tenuous. @universalhub.com
August 2, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Why was this woman’s voter registration crossed out? When Josephine Bowen tried to register to vote in Boston on September 8, 1920, her attempt was rejected because of the clerk’s note: “no papers.” At that time in the United States, a woman’s citizenship status was tenuous. @universalhub.com
At least 16 of Boston's new voters in 1920 worked for the Loose Wiles Biscuit Company, based at 226 Causeway Street. According to @westendmuseum.bsky.social the company began in 1906 as The Austin Biscuit Company and produced a variety of packaged baked goods.🧵
July 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
At least 16 of Boston's new voters in 1920 worked for the Loose Wiles Biscuit Company, based at 226 Causeway Street. According to @westendmuseum.bsky.social the company began in 1906 as The Austin Biscuit Company and produced a variety of packaged baked goods.🧵
Travels of Boston's new women voters in 1920 can be found in local historic newspapers. For #CaribbeanHeritageMonth, we focus on a 1911 @bostonglobe.com story of Jamaica born voter Ethel (Parcells) Scott, encountering rough seas when returning to Boston from a trip to Jamaica. 🧵
June 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Travels of Boston's new women voters in 1920 can be found in local historic newspapers. For #CaribbeanHeritageMonth, we focus on a 1911 @bostonglobe.com story of Jamaica born voter Ethel (Parcells) Scott, encountering rough seas when returning to Boston from a trip to Jamaica. 🧵
As team member, Laura Kitchings, prepares to present at #ASFS40 at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, we found 1920 Boston Voter Lorna C. (Collamore) Jessup, who later served as the Dean of Women at the University. 🧵
Image : Corvallis Gazette-Times, Sat, Mar 29, 1958 ·Page 5
Image : Corvallis Gazette-Times, Sat, Mar 29, 1958 ·Page 5
June 13, 2025 at 4:03 PM
As team member, Laura Kitchings, prepares to present at #ASFS40 at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, we found 1920 Boston Voter Lorna C. (Collamore) Jessup, who later served as the Dean of Women at the University. 🧵
Image : Corvallis Gazette-Times, Sat, Mar 29, 1958 ·Page 5
Image : Corvallis Gazette-Times, Sat, Mar 29, 1958 ·Page 5
Reposted by Mary Eliza Project
Because housewives are also part of history. And sometimes they aren’t just housewives. #WomensHistory #BlackWomensHistory #WomenInHistory
Every name in the Boston Women's Voter Registers leads us to a life and a story. But we can't always trust everything the registration officials wrote down as fact.
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
June 6, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Because housewives are also part of history. And sometimes they aren’t just housewives. #WomensHistory #BlackWomensHistory #WomenInHistory
Every name in the Boston Women's Voter Registers leads us to a life and a story. But we can't always trust everything the registration officials wrote down as fact.
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
June 1, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Every name in the Boston Women's Voter Registers leads us to a life and a story. But we can't always trust everything the registration officials wrote down as fact.
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
Take for instance a “housewife” named Maude T Steward, who registered on August 20, 1920. 🧵
1920 new Boston voters and #Dorchester sisters Vera M. (Warren) Nicholls and Bessie Warren both worked as Superintendents for different locations of Laboratory Kitchen Lunch Rooms, founded in 1903 by Bertha Stevenson. #MaryElizaProject @universalhub.com
May 27, 2025 at 11:33 PM
1920 new Boston voters and #Dorchester sisters Vera M. (Warren) Nicholls and Bessie Warren both worked as Superintendents for different locations of Laboratory Kitchen Lunch Rooms, founded in 1903 by Bertha Stevenson. #MaryElizaProject @universalhub.com
For #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth, we highlighting new voter + philanthropist Charlotte (Lottie) Wolf Rabinovitz. As the wife of an immigrant, Lottie would have needed to present her husband’s 1889 naturalization papers to register to vote.🧵
May 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
For #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth, we highlighting new voter + philanthropist Charlotte (Lottie) Wolf Rabinovitz. As the wife of an immigrant, Lottie would have needed to present her husband’s 1889 naturalization papers to register to vote.🧵
During #NationalNursesWeek, we're spotlighting 3 of the nurses who registered to vote in Boston in 1920. Ella W. Brigham registered on Oct 9th She served as a nurse for the U.S. Army and was later active in the Women’s Overseas Service League. Her career included a 3 year nursing course at MGH. 🧵
![Boston Globe May 22, 1949] Newspaper clipping showing a photo of three women, who are identified as Women’s Overseas Service League officials in the caption. The caption identifies the woman in the middle as Ella W. Brigham.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:a3edaatqqw3xvaybnacj5dat/bafkreif7hpgwpwxsmtfippmmiu7ls33gmurq6ha3sdb55ykqelv7suquna@jpeg)
May 6, 2025 at 12:28 AM
During #NationalNursesWeek, we're spotlighting 3 of the nurses who registered to vote in Boston in 1920. Ella W. Brigham registered on Oct 9th She served as a nurse for the U.S. Army and was later active in the Women’s Overseas Service League. Her career included a 3 year nursing course at MGH. 🧵
Hello, operator?” One of the most common occupations for women living in Boston in 1920 was telephone operator. In 1920, tens of thousands of working women, empowered by the 19th Amendment, registered to vote in the city for the first time.🧵
April 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Hello, operator?” One of the most common occupations for women living in Boston in 1920 was telephone operator. In 1920, tens of thousands of working women, empowered by the 19th Amendment, registered to vote in the city for the first time.🧵
"Occupation: Artist."
Amy Maria Sacker spent 1919 rather glamorously: working as an art director in Hollywood’s early film industry. But she returned to in Boston in 1920, in time to register to vote in her native city. We found her listed on Oct6 in the voter register for The #Fenway, Ward 8. 🧵
Amy Maria Sacker spent 1919 rather glamorously: working as an art director in Hollywood’s early film industry. But she returned to in Boston in 1920, in time to register to vote in her native city. We found her listed on Oct6 in the voter register for The #Fenway, Ward 8. 🧵
April 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"Occupation: Artist."
Amy Maria Sacker spent 1919 rather glamorously: working as an art director in Hollywood’s early film industry. But she returned to in Boston in 1920, in time to register to vote in her native city. We found her listed on Oct6 in the voter register for The #Fenway, Ward 8. 🧵
Amy Maria Sacker spent 1919 rather glamorously: working as an art director in Hollywood’s early film industry. But she returned to in Boston in 1920, in time to register to vote in her native city. We found her listed on Oct6 in the voter register for The #Fenway, Ward 8. 🧵
On August 5, 1920, Sarah Moses Bronkhurst Polak of 708 Columbus Ave in Boston lined up to claim her right to vote. Sarah’s journey to the Boston voter registration table took her across several national borders and showcased how marriage could impact women's voting rights. 🧵 @hubhistory.com
April 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
On August 5, 1920, Sarah Moses Bronkhurst Polak of 708 Columbus Ave in Boston lined up to claim her right to vote. Sarah’s journey to the Boston voter registration table took her across several national borders and showcased how marriage could impact women's voting rights. 🧵 @hubhistory.com
During #DentalHygienistWeek, we spotlight three new New England-born voters who worked as dental hygienists.
New Hampshire-born Ursula Emerson registered to vote on September 15th, 1920.
Image: Boston Post. Thursday, July 04, 1918
New Hampshire-born Ursula Emerson registered to vote on September 15th, 1920.
Image: Boston Post. Thursday, July 04, 1918
April 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
During #DentalHygienistWeek, we spotlight three new New England-born voters who worked as dental hygienists.
New Hampshire-born Ursula Emerson registered to vote on September 15th, 1920.
Image: Boston Post. Thursday, July 04, 1918
New Hampshire-born Ursula Emerson registered to vote on September 15th, 1920.
Image: Boston Post. Thursday, July 04, 1918
On #NationalSchoolLibrariansDay, we spotlight new voter Marion Lovis, who worked as a school librarian in Waltham, Massachusetts. She graduated from Simmons College in 1909. In 1914, she worked as a senior cataloging assistant in the Somerville library system
April 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
On #NationalSchoolLibrariansDay, we spotlight new voter Marion Lovis, who worked as a school librarian in Waltham, Massachusetts. She graduated from Simmons College in 1909. In 1914, she worked as a senior cataloging assistant in the Somerville library system
Edith Guerrier, a librarian at the Boston Public Library’s North End branch, registered to vote on Aug 18, 1920. The clerk misspelled her address as “Nottingham Road.” But Edith lived at 80 Notting Hill Rd, on the upper floor of the renowned ceramics studio she co-directed: Paul Revere Pottery.
April 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Edith Guerrier, a librarian at the Boston Public Library’s North End branch, registered to vote on Aug 18, 1920. The clerk misspelled her address as “Nottingham Road.” But Edith lived at 80 Notting Hill Rd, on the upper floor of the renowned ceramics studio she co-directed: Paul Revere Pottery.
Jennie O'Callaghan, Louise, and Nora O'Callaghan registered to vote on August 20th, 1920. From 1943 to 1962, Jennie lived at 362 Marlborough in Boston’s Back Bay. Image Boston Public Library, Bainbridge Bunting Photograph Collection via Digital Commonwealth
March 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Jennie O'Callaghan, Louise, and Nora O'Callaghan registered to vote on August 20th, 1920. From 1943 to 1962, Jennie lived at 362 Marlborough in Boston’s Back Bay. Image Boston Public Library, Bainbridge Bunting Photograph Collection via Digital Commonwealth
A 1948 article in the Boston Globe recognized Hyde Park born Edna E. Jeffery for her 31-year career as an accountant for the American Red Cross. She was one of at least thirty new voters who worked and volunteered with the American Red Cross.
Image: The Boston Globe, March 12, 1948, pg. 6
Image: The Boston Globe, March 12, 1948, pg. 6
March 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
A 1948 article in the Boston Globe recognized Hyde Park born Edna E. Jeffery for her 31-year career as an accountant for the American Red Cross. She was one of at least thirty new voters who worked and volunteered with the American Red Cross.
Image: The Boston Globe, March 12, 1948, pg. 6
Image: The Boston Globe, March 12, 1948, pg. 6