Images(5)

Award

Object number2018.61.1

Manufacturer Grogan Company

Date1919

MediumSterling silver; Paper; Ink; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Michael Shefler

DescriptionSterling silver award. Shaped like a vase. Tapered cylindrical body widens toward rolled rim with undulating edge. Exterior of body is divided into three engraved text sections, each of which has engraved linear leafy border with flowers in shallow relief in the top corners. Body connects to domed, stepped weighted base with slender, tapered neck; top of base has linear and leafy engraved decorations. Underside is solid with wide flat foot and shallow domed center section.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 14.25 x 6.25 x 6 in. (36.2 x 15.9 x 15.2 cm)
InscriptionsSide of body has three areas with engraved text:
"LUCY KENNEDY MILLER / FROM / EXECUTIVE / COMMITTEE / EQUAL FRACHISE [sic] / FEDERATION / OF / PITTSBURGH / JUNE 24TH 1919";

"ANNE PETERSON / EDITH PAYNE LEETE / ELIZA MUNHALL BRAUN / GERTRUDE BRESHAN FULLER / LOUISE KENNEDY / ADELINE L. SPEER / ELIZABETH D. THAW / ELIZABETH D. KLEBER / AMY H. DUPUY / BLANCHE STREET REES / MARY L. HAY / MAIDEE B. RENSHAW / LUCY D. IAMS / ALBERTA H. IRISH / ELEANOR G. LONG / ANNE McCONWAY McELDOWNEY / MARY FLINN LAWRENCE / ELIZABETH R. PORTER / SARA SOFFEL / ELIZABETH W. PONTEFRACT"; and

"IN / APPRECIATION / OF / VALUABLE SERVICES / RENDERED / IN THE CAUSE OF / WOMAN SUFFRAGE".

Underside has a clear sticker with black printed number "567".
MarksUnderside has imprinted text at center "GROGAN COMPANY / [symbol] STERLING / 03660/14".
Historical NotesAward gifted to suffragette Lucy Kennedy Miller. Temperance was the first issue that caused women to be involved in politics and many women who went on to be suffragists, started out in the temperance movement. Lucy, like many suffragists, was also part of the Dry Federation of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Lucy Kennedy Miller, sometimes referred to in the press as Mrs. John O. Miller, was the chairwoman of Pittsburgh’s suffragist movement during the most crucial years of the right-to-vote fight. She spoke at many local functions in support of enfranchising women and was a regular at scheduled debates regarding the subject. Her sister, Eliza Kennedy Smith, also was a leader in the movement, but she stayed in the background while Lucy was the face of the local movement. In 1915, four years before women would officially get the vote, she wrote an appeal to voters on behalf of the Woman Suffrage Party. She was still leading the party in 1919 when the Pennsylvania Legislature voted to pass the Suffrage Act. After the historic vote, she presented the governor with an engraved memorial in gratitude. On it was her given name, recorded for posterity, with no indication of her marital status, just Lucy Kennedy Miller. Their father, Julian Kennedy, came to Pittsburgh as a structural engineer specializing in blast furnaces, he worked for Carnegie and then opened his own firm. He was world renowned and designed mills for the burgeoning steel industry in many countries including India and Mexico. Julian and his wife, Jennie Kennedy, were involved in the suffragist movement and encouraged the daughters to be advocates for the cause. Jennie Kennedy, co-founded the Equal Franchise Federation of Pittsburgh. Lucy and Eliza went to Winchester-Thurston, Lucy was class of 1902 at Vasser. They lived on the East End, had a mansion in what is now Schenley Park. Lucy was the first head of the League of Women Voters in Pittsburgh. In 1930 she was included on a Distinguished Citizen Ballot in the Pittsburgh Press that included Howard Heinz, Maurice Falk, Edgar Kaufmann, and Andrew Mellon, to name a few. Her son remembered carrying her soapbox for her to her many speeches.

Previous owner Lucy Kennedy Miller

Related institution Equal Franchise Federation of Pittsburgh

Related person Anne Peterson

Related person Edith Payne Leete

Related person Eliza Munhall Braun

Related person Gertrude Breshan Fuller

Related person Louise Kennedy

Related person Adeline L. Speer

Related person Elizabeth D. Thaw

Related person Elizabeth D. Kleber

Related person Amy H. DuPuy

Related person Blanche Street Rees