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Frances "Fannie" Lillian Willard Munds

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Women's Suffrage

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DescriptionAs early as 1848, activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony began fighting for a woman’s right to vote in the United States. This struggle came to Tucson, Arizona with Frances Willard who at the time was the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Activists successfully introduced bills “to Extend the Right of Suffrage to Women” in 1881, 1883, and 1885 but the Territorial Legislature defeated them each time.

As Arizona began its bid for statehood in 1891 the issue of women’s suffrage was again discussed, this time during the first Arizona Constitutional Convention. The problem was raised by Josephine Hughes, Frances Munds, Mary J. R. West, and Mable Ann Hakes. Unfortunately, statehood, and as result suffrage, was denied by President Benjamin Harrison. Arizona would not be allowed to pursue statehood again for 10 years. In the meantime, aspiring voters formed the Arizona Suffrage Association with future senator Frances Willard Munds as secretary.

In 1903, it seemed that the work of these suffragettes would finally find success when a Suffrage Bill was passed by both houses of the Arizona Legislature. Despite its success, Governor Alexander Brodie vetoed the bill citing constitutional issues.

The Second Arizona Constitutional Convention in 1910 provided another opportunity. The National Women’s Suffrage Association sent representatives and money to Arizona to encourage the writing of women’s suffrage into the state constitution. This time Governor Brodie objected because he thought it would jeopardize the bid for statehood with President William Taft.

Eventually, Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, and activists were prepared to ask voters to decide the fate of women voters. The initiative qualified for the ballot on July 5, 1912. By November of that same year, voters (all men) overwhelmingly approved women’s suffrage, and Arizona joined nine other states and territories: Territory of Wyoming (1869), Territory of Utah (1870), Territory of Washington (1883), Territory of Montana (1887), Colorado (1890), Idaho (1896), California (1911), Oregon (1912), and Kansas (1912). It would be another eight years until the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” would pass on August 26, 1920.

More InformationArizona and the 19th Amendment

Document

1912 State of Arizona initiative and referendum publicity pamphlet general election

1912, 1st Legislature, Regular Session- Volume 1, Part 3

1920, Journal of the Arizona Legislature, State of Arizona, Fourth Legislature, Special Session

19th Amendment to the United States Constitution

A Review of Women's Suffrage in Arizona

Arizona Pioneer Women of the Arizona State Organization of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Arizona Suffrage Bill Protected 1917

Arizona Women Involved in the Suffrage Movement- Francis Willard Munds

Arizona Women Want to Vote

Criminal law, voting rights, United States v. Susan B. Anthony : "prisoner tried and convicted, " indictment, January 24, 1873

Equal Suffrage in Arizona

Handbill, Votes for Women

Letter from Frances W. Munds to Miss Reilly September 11, 1912

Letter from Frances Willard Munds to Rev. Anna Shaw February 23, 1910

Letter from Laura Gregg to Rev. Anna Shaw September 18, 1909

Letter from Mulford Winsor to Caroline Reilly on March 30, 1912

Message of Governor Thomas E. Campbell to First Special Session, Fourth Legislature of the State of Arizona, February 12, 1920

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution, 1919

Report for the National Suffrage Convention 1910

Speech by Frances Willard Munds written between 1911 and 1912

Telegram from Citizens of Gila County to Governor Hunt in opposition to woman suffrage

Telegram from women of Gila County to Governor Hunt in support of woman suffrage

Time Line-Women's Suffrage in Arizona

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1912 Suffrage postcard

Frances Willard Munds, an early Arizona state legislator and a pioneer in earning the right for women to vote in Arizona

People celebrating the anniversary of women's suffrage in Arizona

Sandra Day O'Connor speaking at a celebration of women's suffrage in Phoenix

This Day in Arizona History, 02-12 (February 12)

Document- Handwritten|Scan

George W.P. Hunt Personal Correspondence, 1899 (January-March): Item 010

George W.P. Hunt Personal Correspondence, 1899 (January-March): Item 052

George W.P. Hunt Personal Correspondence, 1899 (March-December): Item 001

Letter from Frances Munds to Anna Shaw September 30, 1909

Letter from Laura Gregg to Rev. Anna Shaw January 23, 1910

Periodical

Arizona The New State Magazine, 1912-02

Arizona The New State Magazine, 1912-10

Arizona the State Magazine, 1916-10

Person

Elizabeth Josephine Brawley Hughes

Frances "Fannie" Lillian Willard Munds

Event

1920, Fourth Legislature

CollectionArizona Research TopicsNational History Day Arizona, 2025: Rights and ResponsibilitiesPersonFrances "Fannie" Lillian Willard MundsTopicElectionsWomen

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Women's Suffrage