75 Years Ago: VJ (Victory over Japan) Day in New Hampshire

Posted on 2 September, 2020 by Janice Brown

VJ Day Parade, Edward A. Sallenbach, lithographer, 1940-1950, Library of Congress

Japan surrendered to the Allies on 15 August 1945, but the formal signing of the “Japanese Instrument of Surrender” was on 2 September 1945 onboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This action officially ended World War II.

My uncle, Lieut. Col. Robert J. Manning was a bomber pilot stationed on the island of Ie Shima, when the Japanese diplomatic delegation, on their way to meet with Gen. MacArthur and sign the surrender terms, stopped there on August 19, 1945. He took a photograph of their plane.  If you thought August 15th was VJ day, it is sort of. Many Americans celebrate August 14 as V-J Day, as this is when it is observed in Europe. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Women Who Gained The Vote–100 Years Ago and Today

Posted on 28 August, 2020 by Janice Brown

From the faith of the suffrage
movement came a great idea, the idea
that a nonpartisan organization
could provide political education and
experience which would contribute
to the growth of the citizen and
thus assure the success of democracy.
The League of Women Voters
was founded upon that idea.
— from “25 YEARS OF A GREAT IDEA” (1945) Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, History, New Hampshire Women, Really Old News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Suffragist, Club Woman, Lecturer, Musician and Poet: Ola Maude (Gordon) Roby of Bristol, New Hampshire (1868-1927)

Posted on 24 August, 2020 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Maude (Gordon) Roby from the “History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, Vol 2, printed by R.W. Musgrove, 1904. Colorized by the blog editor. photo page 360

She was born Ola Maude Gordon on 22 January 1868 in Bristol NH, to Frank Augustus & Ellen Marantha (Simonds) Gordon. Her father was a carpenter and builder, and manufacturer of mill supplies. She married 28 July 1888 in Bristol, Grafton Co. NH to Austin H. Roby, son of Gustavus & Mary M. (Haywood) Roby.

She was a dynamic and talented woman who used her soprano singing voice, and her charismatic charm to educate and entertain. The newspapers were full of notices of her performances and that she was pro-suffrage.  Continue reading →

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Dr. Anna B. (Dimick) Parker of Gilmanton NH: Physician, Minister, Suffragist, Civic Leader, Club Woman (1868-1931)

Posted on 19 August, 2020 by Janice Brown

She was born Anna “Annie” Mae Dimick, on 27 Feb 1868 in Gilmanton NH, the daughter of William D. & Anna M. (Folsom) Dimick. By the time of her death at age 63 in 1931, this remarkable New Hampshire woman was known in medical, religious, organizational, and political arenas. She had attended local public schools in Gilmanton NH, along with the Gilmanton Academy. This was followed by graduation from the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1907 she completed her medical degree at the Boston Homeopathic Medical College. Not too long afterward she was ordained a minister of the Unitarian church. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire’s Suffrage Anniversary: 18 & 26 August 2020

Posted on 18 August, 2020 by Janice Brown

Women’s Suffrage League Poster of 1915.

Today is a landmark day not only for New Hampshire but for the United States–the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. By a vote of 50-47, Tennessee became the last state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment on 18 August 1920.

Eight days later on 26 August 1920, then-Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby issued a proclamation declaring the 19th Amendment ratified and part of the US Constitution. This amendment protects American women’s right to vote.

That new national amendment declared: ““The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

Note that some states (and territories) already recognized women’s suffrage before 1920, i.e. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Continue reading →

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