Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage

FAIN: GG-278256-21

ALA (Chicago, IL 60611-2729)
Melanie Welch (Project Director: September 2020 to March 2022)
Samantha Oakley (Project Director: March 2022 to present)

Resources and training for a nationwide reading and discussion program focused on the history of suffrage and its aftermath.

The American Library Association requests a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Public Humanities Projects grant in the amount of $249,999 to implement a Let’s Talk About It (LTAI): Women’s Suffrage humanities discussion project corresponding to NEH’s “A More Perfect Union” special initiative. On August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified, which prohibited the government from denying a citizen the right to vote on the basis of sex. As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of this landmark amendment, it is surprising how many Americans know very little about this milestone in the nation’s history. It is important that we highlight the decades of struggle, resistance, and demonstration by the women’s suffrage movement leading up to the ratification so communities may better appreciate and understand the lasting impact it has had on the nation. This project will engage communities across the nation in critical reflection and discussion on the movement.

Associated Products

Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage Materials (Web Resource)
Title: Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage Materials
Author: Allison K. Lange, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
Author: Melissa Bradshaw, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Abstract: Each of the themes in the Let’s Talk About It program features a series of five books selected for reading and discussion, accompanied by a scholarly essay and set of discussion questions. This document contains background information on the subject, discussion questions for each of the five books and programming ideas to assist with the planning and implementation of a Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage project.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/LTAI_Womens_Suffrage_Essay_020722.pdf
Primary URL Description: Primary URL goes to where you can download a PDF of the materials
Secondary URL: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/ltai/suffrage/support
Secondary URL Description: Link to the LTAI: Women's Suffrage site where the link to the PDF lives.

Let's Talk About It Program Guide (Web Resource)
Title: Let's Talk About It Program Guide
Author: ALA Public Programs Office
Abstract: In 2022, the LTAI Programming Guide was updated and published for the release of the Women's Suffrage theme. This guide provides general how-to information for the LTAI model including program format, selecting a scholar, promoting your series, evaluation, and more.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/LTAI_Guide_web_020822.pdf
Primary URL Description: URL goes to where you can download a copy of the Programming Guide.

Twenty-five libraries selected for Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage humanities discussion project (Article)
Title: Twenty-five libraries selected for Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage humanities discussion project
Author: Hannah Arata
Abstract: Press release announcing the 25 libraries selected to receive grants to support implementation of the LTAI: Women's Suffrage theme.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2022/01/twenty-five-libraries-selected-let-s-talk-about-it-women-s-suffrage-humanities
Primary URL Description: Link to the press release on ALA's website.
Access Model: Open Access
Format: Other
Publisher: American Library Association

Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage: Project Scholars and Advisors (Web Resource)
Title: Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage: Project Scholars and Advisors
Author: Hannah Arata
Abstract: Web page with information about the LTAI: Women's Suffrage project advisors and national scholars.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/ltai/suffrage/advisors
Primary URL Description: Link to page on ALA website with list of project advisors and national scholars

LTAI: Women's Suffrage Grant Landing Page (Web Resource)
Title: LTAI: Women's Suffrage Grant Landing Page
Author: Hannah Arata
Abstract: Landing page for the LTAI: Women's Suffrage grant. Includes links to the RFP guidelines, FAQ, grantee materials, and more.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/ltai/suffrage
Primary URL Description: Link to LTAI: Women's Suffrage grant landing page.

Deepen Discussion and Build Information Literacy with Primary Sources: A Women's Suffrage Example (Article)
Title: Deepen Discussion and Build Information Literacy with Primary Sources: A Women's Suffrage Example
Author: Sarah Ostman
Abstract: This article utilizes books from the LTAI: Women's Suffrage theme and discusses how libraries can pair primary resources with them to foster deeper conversations.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/deepen-discussion-and-build-information-literacy-primary-sources-womens-suffrage-example
Primary URL Description: Link to article on Programming Librarian
Access Model: Open Access
Format: Other
Publisher: Programming Librarian

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