On June 14, 2023, Suffrage100MA hosted its first-ever Gala at The Liberty Hotel, Boston, honoring longtime supporters and unveiling its upcoming transition into the Massachusetts Women’s History Center (virtual at first) with its flagship program, the Massachusetts Women’s Hall of Fame, taking place fall 2023. Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll served as honorary hosts and Shirley Leung of The Boston Globe led the evening as emcee, joining Fredie Kay, Founder & President, Suffrage100MA. The site of the Gala, The Liberty Hotel, was formerly Boston’s Charles Street Jail, where the last suffragists in the country were jailed for peacefully protesting President Woodrow Wilson at the Massachusetts State House for the right to vote in 1919. See Gala photos below!
Suffrage100MA honored three long-time supporters with awards named for the women depicted in the Boston Women’s Memorial:
- Nancy Beeuwkes, Abigail Adams Award, presented by Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts;
- Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler, Lucy Stone Award, presented by Senate President Karen Spilka;
- Charlotte Golar Richie, Phillis Wheatley Award, presented by the Honorable Linda Dorcena Forry.
Fredie Kay, Suzanne Fischer, Exhibit Coach, and Jon Geldert, Theory One Design, provided a sneak peak at Suffrage100MA’s upcoming logo and website for its upcoming transition into the Massachusetts Women’s History Center with its flagship program, the Massachusetts Women’s Hall of Fame.
Suffrage100MA Board Members Mary-dith Tuitt (Vice President), Georgina Arrieta-Ruetenik (Clerk & Treasurer), Rosaline Lowe (Director), and Hermes Velasquez (Director) encouraged support of the new women’s history ventures, while Julie Beckham entertained with two musical performances.
The group started in 2010 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and soon became Suffrage100MA, with regular commemorations leading up to the suffrage centennial of 2020. Stay tuned for updates on the MWHC/MWHOF at Suffrage100MA.org!
Feature: Suffrage100MA Looking Back and Moving Forward
Video by CMTv Productions.
Donations still welcome! Gala Sponsorship Information and Donation Link
Photo credit: Axie Breen Photography.
