Central Park to Honor Women’s Suffrage Leaders
Historical Disparity in Monuments
Throughout the United States, there is a stark disparity in the number of monuments dedicated to real women. According to research published in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Art Inventories Catalog, only 394 statues, or eight percent of the 5,193 public outdoor sculptures of individuals in the United States, depict women.
Central Park’s Lack of Representation
New York City’s Central Park has come under particular scrutiny for its lack of representation of historical women. In 2015, none of the park’s then 22 statues of historical figures were of real women.
Movement for Change
In response to this disparity, a website titled centralparkwherearethewomen.org was launched to advocate for the creation of a monument to women’s rights crusaders Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Central Park.
Centennial Celebration
On the anniversary of the centennial of women’s suffrage in New York State, the New York City Parks Department dedicated the future site of the “Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Woman Suffrage Movement Monument.” The monument will be located in the walkway between 66th and 72nd Streets.
Honoring Additional Suffragists
In addition to Stanton and Anthony, the monument will honor the memory of other prominent suffragists, including Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Mary Church Terrell, Anna Howard Shaw, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
Governor Cuomo’s Announcement
On November 6, 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to build statues of suffragists Sojourner Truth and Rosalie Gardiner Jones on state property.
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree into slavery in Ulster County, New York, became an ardent advocate for both the suffragist and abolitionist movements. She escaped to freedom in 1826 and changed her name to Sojourner Truth.
Rosalie Gardiner Jones
Rosalie Gardiner Jones, a Long Island native known as “General” Jones, led the 1913 National American Women Suffrage Association march from New York to Washington, D.C. Despite mob violence during the parade, Jones and her fellow activists persevered.
Legacy of the Suffragists
The suffragists who fought for women’s voting rights left an enduring legacy. Governor Cuomo stated, “From the suffrage movement’s launch right here in Seneca Falls to the historic Women’s Equality Agenda, New York leads the nation in fighting for women’s rights.”
Call for Design Submissions
The State of New York is currently accepting submissions for the designs of both the Stanton-Anthony monument and the Truth-Jones statues.
Ongoing Fight for Equality
While the centennial of women’s suffrage is a significant milestone, Governor Cuomo emphasized that the fight for true equality continues. “As we recognize this important milestone in our history and reflect on how much progress has been made over the last century, we know we cannot rest as we continue to fight for true equality.”