Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 6

Massachusetts "Blue Bird" Votes for Women Sign

$7,800List Price

About the Item

MASSACHUSETTS "BLUE BIRD" VOTES FOR WOMEN SIGN, MADE FOR THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN IN 1915 One of the most attractive and unusual pieces of memorabilia from the American suffrage movement is a figural tin sign, printed to resemble a songbird, and carrying the message: "Votes for Women Nov. 2." Known in suffrage enthusiast circles as the "bluebird," this iconic object has the very nice feature of being signed along the edge of the tail by both the organization and the specific individuals who commissioned them: "Mass. Woman Suffrage Ass'n. Gertrude H. Leonard Teresa A. Crowley." These are accompanied by the Union Bug, which shows that the sign was produced in New York City by members of Local No.1 of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America (ALA), a labor union formed in 1915 to serve the interests of workers in the printing trade. Made in 1915, these signs were part of a push for a state referendum that would have amended were intended to be tacked up or hung wherever the recipient chose to spread the word, such as in windows, porch, and signposts, lamp posts and telephone poles. An example of this sign is featured on the cover of "Women's Suffrage Memorabilia" by Ken Florey (2013, McFarland Co., North Carolina). It also appears and is described on p. B6. Gertrude Newell was elected chairman of the organization in 1913 and was replaced by Crowley, who served until 1917. Brief biographies of the two women can be found in Harvard University's Women's Rights Collection. These read as follows: "Gertrude Halladay Leonard (b. 1868) became interested in the suffrage cause in 1905 and for the next 12 years gave an increasing amount of time to the suffrage movement in Massachusetts. From 1912-1917 she was chairman of the State Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA) and was virtually acting president, as Alice Stone Blackwell was often unable to fulfill her duties in that office. She served as chairman of the first Boston Suffrage Parade. Along with Theresa Crowley, Mrs. Leonard was greatly responsible for the work of lobbying in the state legislature in favor of a suffrage bill. When the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, Leonard resigned her chairmanship in order to spend the next few months in France as a Red Cross volunteer. From 1925-1926 she worked as an organizer for the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association." As an Irish Catholic, Teresa Crowley (b. 1874, Wakefield, MA, d. 1930) was unusual among her peers in the NAWSA, most of whom were upper-middle-class Protestants. "[She] was a lawyer, amateur actress and suffragist. As chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, she led several successful campaigns against anti-suffrage politicians and is remembered as one of the leading orators of the suffrage movement." Membership in the MWSA swelled from 25,000 in 1912 to 250,000 in 1915. This year was significant to the Suffrage campaign because, on November 2nd of that year, male voters in Massachusetts defeated a state referendum that could have amended the U.S. Constitution to give all women of the state the right to vote. This was a repeat of a similar result in 1895. The only community in the state of Massachusetts to vote in favor of suffrage was Tewksbury with a vote of 149 to 148. Statewide, only 35.5% voted in favor of the measure. Massachusetts was among four eastern states where the issue came to a vote, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It was unsuccessful in all four states. Mounting: The bird is displayed in a deep shadowbox molding that is very dark brown, almost black in color, with red undertones and highlights and a step-down profile. To this, a flat molding with a distressed gold finish was added as a liner. The glazing is anti-reflective, crystal clear Museum Glass. Condition: There are rust stains around two small holes, made by nails that held it to a stationary object, as well as along the outer edge of the bird's profile. There are small scratches and dents, minor and affecting the presentation very little. There is moderate fading, but the overall presentation is wonderful. Frame size (H x L): Approximate 17" x 8.5" Flag size (H x L): 11.75" x 3.25".

Dimensions:
Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Metal
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1910-1919
Date of Manufacture:
1915
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: ws-1101stDibs: LU849718745072

Vintage 1980s American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

George H. W. Bush Signed and Inscribed 1989 Inaugural Photograph

$895

H 10 in W 8 in D 0.07 in

"Votes for Women" Pennant, Early 20th Century

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Presented is a rare, early 20th century American “Votes for Women” pennant. The pennant field is yellow, with black printed block text. "Votes for Women" was one of the most frequent...

Category

Early 20th Century American Edwardian Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

"Votes for Women" Pennant, Early 20th Century

$5,750

H 10.13 in W 19.75 in D 1 in

Sensational Early 19th Century Chapeau De Gendarme Hat Box

Located in Round Top, TX

A sensational early 19th century French Chapeau De Gendarme - officer's hat box in leather. Such a nostalgic shape!! A great accent piece for any b...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Leather

Sensational Early 19th Century Chapeau De Gendarme Hat Box

$813

H 8 in W 19 in D 7 in

Antique 13-Star Patriotic Sash by Louis E. Stilz Bros., Late 19th Century

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Presented is an original patriotic sash from the late 19th century, featuring 13 stars against a bright blue field. This sash features appliqued silver stars on a blue canton, red an...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Antique 13-Star Patriotic Sash by Louis E. Stilz Bros., Late 19th Century

$3,500

H 47 in W 17 in D 2 in

Souvenir of the War 1914-15-16-17-18 Banner

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Presented is a stunning textile banner from the first World War, dating to 1918. The square tan cotton cloth is embroidered with two crossed flags, the ...

Category

Vintage 1910s Australian Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Souvenir of the War 1914-15-16-17-18 Banner

$2,500

H 24.25 in W 24.25 in D 2.25 in

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat in Original Box

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy wool Fez hat with original box. Al Malaikah, legion of Honor vintage fez hat from the Los Angeles ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Moorish Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat in Original Box

$495

H 6 in Dm 7.25 in

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy wool Fez hat. Al Malaikah, legion of Honor vintage fez hat from the Los Angeles Al Malaikah Shrine...

Category

Late 20th Century American Moorish Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

AL Malaikah Vintage Iconic Masonic Shriner Burgundy Wool Fez Hat

$450

H 6 in Dm 7.5 in

31-Star Printed American Flag, Celebrating California Statehood, Circa 1850

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

This is a rare 31-star medallion printed American flag, celebrating the addition of California to the Union. The flag is printed on silk and has a spectacular “Great Star” canton pat...

Category

Antique 1850s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

31-Star Printed American Flag, Celebrating California Statehood, Circa 1850

$38,500

H 43 in W 50.5 in D 2.5 in

Antique 1930 s Moise Klinkner U.S. Custodian Service Marshall Badge OBSOLETE!

Located in San Diego, CA

Up for sale is a very rare original Obsolete antique U.S. Treasury Department Custodian Service Marshall 6 point star badge dating from the late 1920's to early 1930's This is a proh...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

Antique 1930 s Moise Klinkner U.S. Custodian Service Marshall Badge OBSOLETE!

$6,500

H 2.5 in Dm 2.25 in

Mr. Dooley at His Best, by Finley Peter Dunne Edited by Elmer Ellis

Located in valatie, NY

Mr. Dooley at His Best. Edited by Elmer Ellis at the University of Missouri. With a Foreword by Franklin P. Adams. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1938. First edition, 1st printing, one of 520 copies with one page of the author's original manuscript. Frontispiece portrait. 291 pp. Buckram and decorated boards with a leather label. Finley Peter Dunne (1867- 1936) was an American humorist and writer from Chicago. In 1898 Dunne published Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War, a collection of his nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley sketches. Speaking with the thick verbiage and accent of an Irish immigrant from County Roscommon, the fictional Mr. Dooley expounded upon political and social issues of the day from his South Side Chicago Irish pub...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Books

Materials

Paper

Mr. Dooley at His Best, by Finley Peter Dunne Edited by Elmer Ellis

$249

H 9 in W 6.25 in D 1.5 in

More From This Seller

View All

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914

Located in York County, PA

IRONSTONE PLATE WITH "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT, MADE JOHN MADDOCK & SONS FOR SUFFRAGIST ALVA BELMONT FOR MARBLE HOUSE, HER FAMOUS ESTATE IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, CIRCA 1914: Porcelain objects related to the Suffrage movement are extremely scarce. The most celebrated of all American suffrage dinnerware consists of a service of white ironstone, commissioned by Alva Belmont,* prominent Newport, Rhode Island, socialite. Belmont was the founder of a pro-suffrage group called the Political Equality Association. According to Suffrage memorabilia expert Ken Folley, "There are at least eight different examples known in this design, including a cup and saucer, a lunch or dinner plate, a salad or bread plate, a berry bowl, a soup bowl, a celery dish...

Category

Vintage 1910s English Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Porcelain

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914

Price Upon Request

Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example

Located in York County, PA

ENGLISH PORCELAIN SUFFRAGETTE PLATE WITH "DEEDS, NOT WORDS" AND "VOTES FOR WOMEN" SLOGANS, ONE-OF-A-KIND AMONG KNOWN EXAMPLES, CA 1905-1918 English porcelain plate, made for the Women's Suffrage movement in the U.K. One-of-a-kind among presently known examples, this wonderful Arts & Crafts design features a green, frog-like pattern around the border, surrounding violet and green or daisies, on a polka dot green background. Interspersed between the flowers are the words "Votes for Women" and, in Latin, the phrase "Facta non Verba...

Category

Early 20th Century English Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Porcelain

Suffragette Plate, "Deeds Not Words" "Votes for Women", The Only Known Example

$4,900

Women s Suffrage Movement Pennant w/ Bold Color, Votes For Women Text, 1912-1919

Located in York County, PA

American Suffrage movement pennant, with a standard, triangular taper. Made of yellow felt, with tapered letters that read simply: "Votes for Women," bo...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

Women s Suffrage Movement Pennant w/ Bold Color, Votes For Women Text, 1912-1919

Price Upon Request

American Suffrage Movement Votes for Women" Pennant, circa 1912-1920

Located in York County, PA

AMERICAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT PENNANT WITH "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT, IN A LARGE SIZE AND WITH ATTRACTIVE PATINA FROM AGE AND OBVIOUS USE, circa 1912-1920 American Suffrage movement penna...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

American Suffrage Movement Votes for Women" Pennant, circa 1912-1920

Price Upon Request

Suffrage Textile in Green, White, Violet - Votes for Women - Connecticut Made

Located in York County, PA

VOTES FOR WOMEN PARADE TEXTILE IN GREEN, WHITE, & VIOLET, OF A TYPE WORN AS SASHES AND WAVED AS NARROW PARADE BANNERS, MADE IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT BY CALHOUN PRESS FOR THE WOMEN'S ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Suffrage Textile in Green, White, Violet - Votes for Women - Connecticut Made

$7,250

"Equal suffrage for Michigan in 1916" Advertising Fan for the Bissell Company

Located in York County, PA

"EQUAL SUFFRAGE FOR MICHIGAN IN 1916," ADVERTISING FAN FOR THE BISSELL 'CYCO BALL BEARING CARPET SWEEPER,' COMMISSIONED BY ANNA BISSELL (1846-1934), AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE CEO Oriental-made, twill-woven silk fan with gilt lettering that reads : "Bissell's 'Cyco Ball Bearing Carpet Sweeper' makes sweeping easy," set within an interesting, open, geometric design. A purposefully curved, paper label beneath was applied by the "Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, Kalamazoo, 405 So. Burdick St.," whose byline is along the bottom. On it, a terrific message reads: "OVER 100,000 WOMEN pay taxes in Michigan on property assessed at $177,596,938. In 1910 OVER 175,000 MICHIGAN WOMEN signed a petition sent to Congress asking for Equal Suffrage. 247,373 MICHIGAN MEN voted...

Category