Today in Feminist History

Justice Stewart gave further encouragement to birth control advocates by making this observation: “That’s like telling a patient he has appendicitis and will die unless it is removed, but not allowing its removal.”

Mrs. Boorum Wells, Executive Committee member, said: “But let not the public think too little of this movement because of its humble beginning. The beginning was made in England in even a smaller room than this. And now look at us over there! The parties are making advances to us to get our influence before they openly take up our cause. But we will make no alliances with political parties. Do men all join one party? They do not. They vote on different sides. So shall we. All we want is the right to vote. and we shall get it.”

Byrne has been in custody since January 22, after being convicted of violating Section 1142 of New York State’s Penal Code by furnishing information on birth control to patients at what was America’s first and only birth control clinic.

Byrne is currently serving a 30-day sentence for violating New York State law by distributing contraceptive information at what was America’s first—and so far only—birth control clinic, until it was raided and closed on October 26, 10 days after its opening.

Jones’ first—and totally unprecedented—”suffrage hike” left the Bronx on December 16, 1912, and arrived in Albany 12 days later. The purpose of the event was to deliver a message from prominent New York suffragists to Governor-elect William “Plain Bill” Sulzer, and then get him to formally support woman suffrage. They succeeded on both counts.

Representative Edith Nourse Rogers, Republican of Massachusetts, today drafted new legislation that would give America’s women a chance to serve their country in uniform.

Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, talked about the status of her personal tax revolt tonight, and gave out a copy of the letter she recently sent to suffrage advocates around the country asking them to join her in refusing “taxation without representation.”

Thirteen women today went where none have gone before: The United States Coast Guard Academy. They are members of the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, nicknamed the “SPARS.”