(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dr Jackie Thompson and Marilyn Barton share a moment in the Gold Room at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City before a celebration of suffrage on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
Utahns on Wednesday celebrated the 150th anniversary of suffrage for women in the Territory of Utah, signed into law on Feb. 12, 1870.
Women wore period dress amid displays about Utah history and activities for children, from a sing-along to a scavenger hunt. Gov. Gary Herbert ceremonially signed a joint resolution celebrating suffrage, joined by women now serving in Utah’s House and Senate.
More events are scheduled Friday, the 150th anniversary of Utah women being the first in the nation to vote under an equal suffrage law. (While Wyoming passed its suffrage law first, Utah held an election first.)
Friday’s events include:
Remembrance walk and gathering, 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. • The walk will head north on State Street at 12:15 p.m. from City Creek Park (175 N. State Street) for a short speech and exhibit viewing at Council Hall before ending at Memorial House in Memory Grove Park. Food, music, activities and a collaborative art project will be available beginning at 1 p.m. at Memorial House (375 N. Canyon Road).
Meet at City Creek Park to check in between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear the suffrage colors of purple, white or yellow. Organizers will provide pins and ribbons for people to wear with the name of a woman they would like to honor. In case of inclement weather, the event will start at noon at Memorial House. The event includes Better Days 2020, Preservation Utah, Voterise, the Utah Cultural Alliance, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and YWCA Utah.
Rally, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. • The League of Women Voters of Salt Lake and Utah are holding a rally in front of the Capitol. Speakers include Deeda Seed, from the Center for Biological Diversity, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, former Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck and former Congresswoman Karen Shepherd.
Short operas, 7 p.m. • Women of Notes, two short operas by and about women, will be presented at the Ladies’ Literary Clubhouse (850 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City). A social hour with light refreshments will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m. Tickets, which are $25, are available at the door and at bit.ly/2Oub5cR. Better Days 2020 and Utah Opera are hosting.
As the national battle over polygamy continued, Congress stripped Utah women of their suffrage in 1887, but they regained it with statehood in 1896.