Charleston, W. Va. – West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner and members of the WV Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment kicked off a yearlong commemoration of women's suffrage at a special “EqualiTea” reception on Wednesday at the Culture Center in Charleston, prior to the Governor’s State of the State Address.

West Virginia became the 34th state to ratify the 19th Amendment – which guaranteed women the right to vote – on March 10, 1920. The Amendment was certified in August 1920.

Over the last six months, Secretary Warner’s Office has worked with community, civic, educational and political party leaders throughout the state to coordinate and promote a series of local events to celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment. The Coordinating Committee for the “WV Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment” consists of more than 40 individuals (View the list here). State Republican Party Chairwoman Melody Potter and State Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore serve as honorary co-chairs of the Committee.

On behalf of the Governor's Office, Ann Urling, and behalf of First Lady Cathy Justice, Vicki Shannon, gave special remarks and joined Secretary Warner, the co-chairs and Curator Randall Reid-Smith to unveil the official logo for the state’s commemoration effort. AARP-West Virginia sponsored the event.

More than a dozen women from organizations throughout the state dressed in 1920-period costume and “WV Women Vote 10” sashes. Several also attended the Governor’s State of the State Address.

Colleen Anderson, a Charleston-based graphic designer, created the logo and attended the unveiling.

“One of my earliest memories is of nestling between my parents in their bed while they listened to election returns on the radio, probably in the fall of 1952,” Anderson said in her statement. “By example, they taught me that voting was not only my privilege, but my patriotic duty. We often disagreed about politics, but we agreed on the importance of voting.

“I created this design to encourage West Virginia women to vote as a way of honoring their mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and all the women who fought for every woman’s right to vote, as well as to provide a patriotic example to their daughters and granddaughters.”

A gallery of photos from the event can be found here.

For more information on the WV Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment, including a growing list of events planned throughout the state, visit our website and commemoration page on Facebook.

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