an's rights"
meeting ever held. The State Woman Suffrage Association was formed in
this city in December, 1869, a few months after the founding of the
National Association, and did not cease its work until the final
victory in 1920.

Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg of Philadelphia was reelected to the
presidency in 1901 for the tenth consecutive term and was reelected
annually six times thereafter, retiring in 1908 because the work then
required long journeys from home. Auxiliaries had been organized in 11
counties before the convention held in Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1901.
Suffrage activities had been confined to southeastern Pennsylvania but
now three extreme western counties and two central ones had
organizations and offered a promising field. For the first time plans
were made for extended canvassing for members. To the courageous women
of that period who carried on steadfastly under severe handicaps and
with little encouragement may be attributed much of the inspiration of
the suffragists of later years. Miss Jane Campbell of Germantown,
poet, author and orator, president for many years of the large, active
Philadelphia County Society, was responsible in a great degree for the
enthusiasm and spirit which sustained the pioneers.

The convention of 1902 took place in Philadelphia November 7. A
report on the canvassing of one ward of Philadelphia, the 10th, showed
55 per cent. of the women in favor. Leaflets were sent to 2,184
schools during the year and a prize offered for the best essay on
woman suffrage by a pupil. On December 5 the Philadelphia Yearly
Meeting of Friends organized an Equal Rights Association.

A report on the canvass of the 15th ward, undertaken by the county
society, the largest and most active auxiliary, was given at the
annual convention held in Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1903, and showed that
of the 4,839 women interviewed nearly one-half were favorable, less
than a third opposed and the rest were indifferent. This year the
State Grange and the city Labor Union endorsed woman suffrage. A
banquet in honor of Miss Susan B. Anthony and the other national
officers took place at the New Century Club, the guests including
Mayor Samuel Ashbridge and his wife. His progressiveness contrasts
strongly with the fact that sixteen years later the suffragists were
unable to persuade Mayor Thomas B. Smith to welcome their Fiftieth
Annual Convention to the city.

Easton was the place of the convention, Nov. 3-5, 19