Women's Ballots. [Illinois], 5 April 1898. 7 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. manuscript document (minor toning).

The women's suffrage movement developed in the 19th century and saw more broad support by the 1880s and 1890s. By 1896, four states, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Utah, had granted women suffrage. It was also in this period that many women were permitted to vote in various education-related or municipal elections. Women in Illinois received limited enfranchisement on 19 June 1891 when the state legislature passed a bill that would allow women to vote in elections held to elect school officials. As these elections were held concurrently with other races, women were required to use separate ballots and ballot boxes. This list bears the name of 48 women who cast ballots in an unidentified election on 5 April 1898.

[With:] Illinois Register of Electors of Henry Township Election District. [Illinois]: N.p., 28 October 1890. -- Poll book for Henry Township, Marshall County, IL. Chicago: John Morris Company, 4 November 1890. -- Tally Lis for Henry Township. [Illinois]: N.p., 8 November 1892. 16 1/2 x 18  in. --  Illinois Register of Electors for Henry Township, IL. Danville, IL: Illinois Printing Co., 13 October 1896. -- Poll book for Henry Township, Marshall County, IL. Chicago: P.F. Pettibone & Co., 8 November 1898. -- Illinois Register of Electors of Henry Township. Springfield, IL: Talbott & Hamann, 30 October 1899. -- Together, 6 Poll Books and Register of Electors for Harvey Township, Marshall County, Illinois, all folio except where noted, original wrappers, condition generally very good, toned, some dampstaining.