Summary

Creator:

Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923, Upton, Harriet Taylor, and Baskin, Lisa Unger

Abstract:

Collection comprises a letter written by the United States Senator from Ohio Warren G. Harding to the suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton regarding support for women's suffrage. Harding responds to a telegram from Upton asking him to use his influence on Ohio State Senator U.G. Murrell in support of women's voting rights. Harding replies that he is "reluctant" to advise Murrell on the matter because of his previous experience with Murrell while Harding was a member of the Ohio General Assembly.

Extent:

0.1 Linear Feet
1 item

Language:

Materials in English

Collection ID:

RL.11411

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of a single autograph typescript letter on Senator Warren G. Harding's United States Senate letterhead dated 1917 February 11. Senator Harding writes to suffragist Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton of Warren, Ohio, "I beg to acknowledge your telegram of February 4. By reason of my former experience as a member of the Senate of Ohio General Assembly, I would be reluctant to advise Senator Murrell of Clinton County as to his ultimate action on the suffrage matter." Murrell was a member of the Ohio General Assembly. By 1917, Senator Harding was prepared to vote in the affirmative on the issue of women's suffrage. Harriet Upton was was hoping to leverage his influence to generate similar support in their home state of Ohio.

Biographical / Historical:

Warren G. Harding was the 29th President of the United States and a member of the Republican party. He served as the United States Senator from Ohio from 1915-1921. On the issue of suffrage, Harding first indicated that he could not support votes for women until his Ohio constituents did. By the time support for suffrage increased and was voted on by the Senate in 1918, Harding was a supporter. Although Harding was popular in his time, scandals that later came to light have caused him to be remembered as one of the worst Presidents in history.

Harriet Taylor Upton was a women's suffrage activist who was nationally known for her work in the struggle for women's right to vote. She was the president of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association at the time of this letter. Upton made an unsuccessful bid for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1926, and was the first woman to become a vice chairperson of the Republican National Committee. She was also active in the temperance movement and an author of both children's books and histories.

Acquisition Information:

The Warren G. Harding letter to Harriet Taylor Upton was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.

Processing information:

Processed by Megan E. Lewis, March, 2017

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050-LUBMSS248

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:

Presidents -- United States -- Correspondence
Suffragists -- Ohio -- History
Women -- Suffrage -- Ohio -- History -- 20th century

Names:

Lisa Unger Baskin Collection (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Upton, Harriet Taylor
Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923 -- Correspondence
Murrell, U. G.

Places:

Ohio -- Politics and government -- 20th century