Long Beach Suffrage 100

Decades before the 2020 Suffrage Centennial, women began working on the anniversary of the 19^th Amendment. They created costumes, songs, all kinds of collectables, new books, films, music, performances.  Schools, cities, states, museums, even the Pasadena Rose Parade were making plans and reserving venues. It was going to be a once in a lifetime celebration for the American Suffrage for Women Centennial.

With a year to prepare, women met to plan the Long Beach Suffrage Centennial, as thousands did in their cities across the country. Our costume was a handsewn sash, a hat of any design and white clothes, all including the colors of American Suffrage: yellow, white and purple.

The Suffrage 100 included both Suffragists & Suffragents. 2019, our numbers grew and attention burst open. They were invited to guard the art at the opening of the Billy Jean King Main Library, march in the Daisy Lane Parade and demonstrate the new VSAC Voting machines.  We visibly demonstrated for every women centered even and holiday. The Long Beach Silent Sentinels appeared on Ocean Blvd and at the City Council meeting to celebrate Women’s Equality Day which was the national day for the 19^th Amendment.

It was a city-wide surprise to uncover that the California Women’s Club met at the Hotel Virginia, May 1911, in Long Beach and voted to support Women’s Suffrage.  That launched the state-wide campaign, from Sacramento to San Diego. October, 1911, California women earned the right to vote in their state.  California ratified the 19^th Amendment, November 1, 1919, making it the 18^th state of the required 36.

Mid-November 2019 The Long Beach Silent Sentinels stood at the State Convention of the California Democratic Party. I was the only one speaking as there were lots of questions from passersby and the press.

The excitement collected with each performance, meeting, engagement, and service to the Long Beach Women.  Proudly we made historic discoveries about the city and contributed to the 21^st Century history.

Upon the crushing advent of covid, we folded out sashes, hung up our hats and put our plans on an unknown hold.  2021, we met and held a tea at The Bembridge House to celebrate all we had done. I changed the hatband on my straw boater from suffrage to ERA.  Without exaggeration, writing this in 2026, I can say, the women and girls of the Suffrage 100 hold these memories dear.

December 2025, we lost our most beloved Suffragist, Ann Burdette.
We plan on attending her services in our whites, sash and hat.  January, 2026