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[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951, SC 0082, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Purchased from Scott Suter (via eBay) in October 2005
In order to streamline the process of applying collegion numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017.
On June 4th, 1919 Congress passed the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. This ledger was utilized mostly in 1922, with a few entries back-dated to 1920. This means that the ledger was created very shortly after the success of the women's suffrage movement.
This Bridgewater Women's Voter Roll, 1920-1951, consists of one bound and handwritten ledger, 15-1/2"x10-1/2". This ledger dates from 1922-1948 with a few entries back-dated to 1920, and one other listing 1951 as a date of transfer. The pre-printed label with handwritten blanks (indicated by italics) on the front of the ledger reads: "Roll of* Women (White) Voters Registered at Bridgewater Corp [?] Precinct Ashby Magisterial District Rockingham County, Virginia 1948 *White or Colored."
The headings for the roll include: date of registration; number; name; date of birth; age in years; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county and precinct; "Is he exempt from payment of poll tax as a prerequisite to voting?"; If naturalized, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred, when and to what precinct. The earliest registrants listed are Frances Arey and Jessie Beydler in January 1922. The earliest birth date listed is Martha Diehl, who was born 1861. Occupations are varied from predominantly house-wives and house-keepers, to teachers, book keepers, secretaries, stenographers, nurses, students, clerks and seamstresses. The more unusual occupations listed are: Dean of Women, Assistant Post Master, dietician, and dental assistant. Almost all of the registrants are local, or were transferred from a neighboring precinct. All entries are handwritten in blue ink.
This collection is kept in one folder.
Bridgewater Voter Roll, 1902-1948, SC 0081, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.