Sepia Saturday

Every week Sepia Saturday inspires bloggers to share nostalgic or historic images based on a visual prompt. Since tomorrow’s Independence Day in the US, I’m deviating and sharing images surrounding July 4th. The beauty of Sepia Saturday is we’re free to do that.

Keppler, Udo J., Artist. Independence day / Keppler. , 1908. N.Y.: J. Ottmann Lith. Co., Puck Bldg., July 1. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011647321/.

1894

This print shows a future 4th of July celebration where women have gained suffrage and equality; it shows young and old women ringing a bell labeled “Equal Rights”, as women emerge from underground and participate in a procession, marching under banners that state “United Order of Matinee Women” and “Higher Culture Division” past statures of a woman holding a rolling pin labeled “Erected to the Memory of the First Woman Who Wore Breeches” and an eagle, wearing a bonnet, labeled “The American Bird is a Hen Eagle and Lays Eggs. Lil Blake Sculp.” A notice on a bell tower states “Strike Out the Word Male.”

I wonder whether Taylor lived long enough to come to terms with women voting. I’m writing a play about the first time women could vote, run for office and work elections in Illinois. I should share some of the nuggets my research has unearthed.

Taylor, Charles Jay, Artist. “Independence Day” of the future / C.J. Taylor. , 1894. N.Y.: Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, July 4. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648736/.

1876

McRae, John C., Engraver, and Frederick Augustus Chapman. “The day we celebrate”/ painted by F.A. Chapman ; engraved by John C. McRae, N.Y. New York, ca. 1875. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013645312/.

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