A Guide to the Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951 SC 0082

A Guide to the Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951 SC 0082


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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections

880 Madison Drive
MSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Julia Merkel, Alicia Henneberry

Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0082
Title
Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll 1920-1951
Quantity
0.08 cubic feet, 1 folder
source
Suter, Scott Hamilton
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

Conditions Governing Use

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).

Conditions Governing Access

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.

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

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's Voter 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.

Related Material

Bridgewater Voter Roll, 1902-1948, SC 0081, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Bridgewater (Va.) -- History -- 20th century
  • Elections -- Virginia
  • Political participation -- Virginia -- Bridgewater -- Sources
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- 20th century
  • Rockingham County (Va.) Ashby Magisterial District. Bridgewater -- Registers
  • Suter, Scott Hamilton
  • Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950
  • Voter registration -- Virginia -- Bridgewater -- Sources
  • Voters' lists
  • Voting registers -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
  • Women, White -- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Sources

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

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Bridgewater (Va.) -- History -- 20th century
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- 20th century
  • Rockingham County (Va.) Ashby Magisterial District. Bridgewater -- Registers
  • Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950

Container List

Mixed Materials [1000885789] box: 9 folder: 1
Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll
1920-1951