Coalition of Tennessee History Partners Unite to Expand Narrative of African American Women's Suffrage 

After focus group meetings in July to discuss the parameters of the project, a statewide coalition with representatives from the National Civil Rights Museum, Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Nashville Public Library, the University of Memphis, the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and the Memphis Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History is focusing its collective might to document early African American women's political history and expand the history of suffrage in Tennessee.

Starting November 17–18 at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Protecting the Legacy will digitize original photographs, documents, and memorabilia at events held across Tennessee over the next two years. The goal is to make the materials available for public research and educational purposes once the project is complete.

Early research unveiled stories of women such as Mrs. T. S. Brown, who founded a Black Woman’s Suffrage Club and corresponded with Mayor E. H. Crump in 1927 about ensuring African American women paid their poll taxes and were registered to vote.

Now, the project seeks, with help from the public, to uncover other local suffrage stories. Project leaders are asking those interested in participating to look through family history for information about African American women that dates to 1930 and earlier. Places to start include:

Photographs and letters stored in attics or photo albums often contain political

histories of African American women.