Women and Gender
The 19th Century
Pre-Statehood
Letter from Richard McCarty to Wife, 1779
- Captain Richard McCarty asks for his wife to join him at his Illinois post in the spring.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Cahokia Records 1778-1790. Vol. II. Collections of the Illinois State Historical LIbrary. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1907.
An Act to divorce Elizabeth A. Sprigg from the banns of matrimony, 1817
- This act bypasses the usual divorce proceeding and time requirements to give a woman with an unfaithful husband a quick divorce. The Northwest Territory passed its first divorce law in 1795.
- Citation: Philbrick, Francis S. The Laws of Illinois Territory 1809-1818. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1950. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Early Statehood
Last Will or Testament of Adam Vogel, St. Clair County, 1854 / Typed Transcription
- Illinois law permitted all people who were 17 or older to dispose of their personal estate by will and testament. Adam Vogel’s will left his property to his wife Anne Rosine Vogel with certain stipulations attached.
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
List of Goods Belonging to Jeptha Hornbeck, 6 January 1858 / Typed Transcription
- Jeptha Hornbeck was sued for failure to pay her debts in 1857. The court ordered a list of her belongings so they might be used as restitution of her debt.
- Citation: I/B/Box 5 Shelby County Circuit Court Wm. F. Thornton v. Jeptha Hornbeck. IRAD in Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University.
The Civil War
An Act to protect Married Women in their separate property, 1861
- This act allowed women to own property after marriage. Before this act, the property of women was transferred to their husbands upon marriage. It was approved by the Illinois legislature on 21 February 1861.
- Citation: Public Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twenty-Second General Assembly, Convened January 7, 1861. Springfield: Bailhache & Baker, Printers, 1861.
The Late 19th Century
An Act to amend the criminal code of Illinois in relation to the offense of abortion, 1867
- This act states that the purposeful termination of a pregnancy is considered a high misdemeanor and punishable with two to ten years of prison. It also states that should the woman die during the procedure, the offender would be guilty of murder. It was approved on 28 Feb., 1867.
- Citation: The Public Laws of the State of Illinois Passed at the Twenty-Fifth Session of the General Assembly, 1867. Chicago: Callaghan and Cutler, Publishers, 1867, pg. 89.
Law Concerning the Sexes, 1872
- This act guaranteed that no person should be barred from any profession (except the military) on account of sex. It was approved on 22 March 1872.
- Citation: Gross, Eugene L. and William L. Gross, ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Second Volume: Acts of 1871-2. Springfield: E. L. & W. L. Gross, 1872.
- These series of acts did a variety of things for the public school system. The act authorizes the election of women into School Offices. The second and third act deal with administrative issues while the fourth act protects colored children’s right to attend school without threats or intimidation. All four were passed in 1874. These acts are also included on the Education page and the African American page.
- Citation: Gross, Eugene L. and William L. Gross, ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Second Volume: Acts of 1871-2. Springfield: E. L. & W. L. Gross, 1872.
- This act outlines legitimate reasons for procuring a divorce, the legitimacy of children and alimony as well as several other factors. It was approved on 10 March 1874.
- Citation: Gross, William L., ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Volume III: Acts of 1873-4. Riverside: H. O. Houghton & Company, 1874.
Law Concerning Husbands and Wives, 1874
- This act guaranteed that a husband or wife could not be legally culpable for his/her spouse’s debt, gave married women the right to own their own property and also laid out punishment for desertion.
- Citation: Gross, William L., ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Volume III: Acts of 1873-4. Riverside: H. O. Houghton & Company, 1874.
- This law revised the laws concerning marriage; it regulated who could contract marriages and the proper procedure for registering with the government. It was approved on 27 February 1874.
- Citation: Gross, William L., ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Volume III: Acts of 1873-4. Riverside: H. O. Houghton & Company, 1874.
Widow’s Selection Record, Warren County, 1876 / Typed Transcription
- Beginning in 1847 widows were entitled to certain items from their husbands' estates. Some of the guaranteed property included family pictures, clothing, jewelry, books, the sewing machine, beds and bedding, the stove and cooking utensils, household furniture, one cow and one calf for every four family members, one horse and saddle, enough food for the family for one year, six months worth of food for livestock, and $100 worth of other property. The widow had the right to relinquish her right and receive the equivalent amount in cash.
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Petition from the Woman's Christian Association to Remit Water Taxes for their Boarding House, 12 February 1883 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Communication from the Trade and Labor Assembly Concerning Compulsory Education, 16 December 1888 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Communication from the Illinois Woman's Alliance Concerning Child Labor, 16 April 1890 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Communication from the Illinois Woman's Alliance Concerning Bathing Houses, 19 January 1891 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Women May Vote in School Elections, 1891 / Typed Transcription
- Women were given the right to vote for school officials beginning in 1891 in the state of Illinois.
- Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, 1891. Thirty-seventh General Assembly. Springfield: H.W. Rokker State Printer and Binder, 1891.
Illinois Woman's Exposition Board Exhibit Description for the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893
- For the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, women were granted the opportunity to produce an exhibit. This document is a description of the exhibit written by the women themselves. A lesson plan relating the exhibit to the women's suffrage movement is coming soon!
- Citation: Illinois Board of World's Fair Commissioners.The Illinois building and exhibits therein at the World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893. Chicago : J. Morris, 1893.
The 20th Century
The Early 20th Century
Women Granted Right to Vote for Certain Officers, Etc., 1913
- Illinois was the first state east of the Mississippi to give women the right to vote in presidential elections. In addition to voting for presidential electors, this act gave women the right to vote on local ballot issues, and for some state and local elected positions. They did not have the right to vote for state or national legislators.
- Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois enacted by the Forty-Eighth General Assembly at the Regular Biennial Session. Springfield: Illinois State Journal Co., 1913.
World War I
"Full Suffrage Here Seen as Blow to Foe," 8 February 1918
- Before and during World War I, American women struggled to win the right to vote. Women's contribution to the war helped win public opinion in favor of women's suffrage. In addition, the "war for democracy" highlighted the disenfranchisement of half of the American population. This article describes a speech on this subject, made at a meeting of the National Women's Party in Chicago. It appeared in the Chicago Tribune on 8 February 1918. This document is cross-listed on the War and Military page.
- Citation: Chicago Tribune, 8 February 1918.
The Great Depression
Letter from Seattle, Washington Requesting a Pension for a War Veteran's Widow, 1 October 1933
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Telegram Concerning Violence Committed Against the Progressive Miners of America 2 February 1934
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Girls-Are You Interested in a Job? WPA Poster, 1936-37
- This poster advertises for the Illinois branch of the National Youth Administration (NYA) promoting educational opportunities for young women seeking training for employment. It depicts four women engaged in various job pursuits.
- Citation: “Girls – Are You Interested in a Job?: Find Out What an Occupation Has to Offer You in Pay, Employment, Security, and Promotion: Free Classes in Occupations,” Illinois: Federal Art Project, 1936-1937, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
Story Hour, WPA Poster, 1936-39
- This poster shows a girl sitting at the knees of a woman holding an open book. Story hour was part of a WPA Recreation Project for District Number 2--Kane, Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties.
- Citation: “Story Hour: W.P.A. Recreation Project – Dist. No. 2 / Shari,” Illinois: Federal Art Project, 1936-1939, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
Jobs for Girls and Women, WPA Poster, 1936-41
- Designed by Albert M. Bender, this poster for the Illinois State Employment Service promotes jobs for women as domestics offering "good pay, good meals, good surroundings, [and] good working conditions." It depicts a smiling woman washing dishes.
- Citation: “Jobs for Girls & Women: If You Want a Good Job in Household Employment Apply at – or Write to Illinois State Employment Service,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1936-1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
New Trier Evening School, WPA Poster, 1936-41
- This poster shows a woman wearing an apron with her hand in a bowl of food. Classes in language, home economics, commerce, and science are advertised.
- Citation: “New Trier Evening School: Classes for Adults, Wednesday Evenings 7:30 – 9:30,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1936-1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
A Lifelong Job, WPA Poster, 1936-41
- Designed by E.S. Reid, this poster from The Cook County Public Health Unit depicts a woman and two children in the rain.
- Citation: “A Lifelong Job – The Constant Protection of Their Health – The Cook County Public Health Unit / E.S. Reid,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1936-1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
Letter Requesting Relief for the Daughters of a Civil War Veteran, 18 October 1939
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Jobs - Get the Facts About Occupations, WPA Poster, 1941
- This poster for the National Youth Administration (NYA) of Illinois promotes free job training classes. It shows a young woman holding books and a young man holding machine parts, with factories and a city skyline below.
- Citation: “Jobs – Get the Facts About Occupations – Free Classes for Young Men and Women 16 to 25 Yrs. – National Youth Administration of Illinois / Dusek,” Illinois: Federal Art Project, 1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.
World War II
Mechanic's Suit Description and Illustration, 1942
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E.and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Women of Illinois Can Help Win the War, Save All Fats and Greases, 1943
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
