; the State Normal, 46.--Ed.

CHAPTER XVI.

KENTUCKY.[55]

When the Equal Rights Association was formed in 1888 Kentucky was the
only State that did not permit a married woman to make a will; a
wife's wages might be collected by the husband; property and
inheritance laws between husband and wife were absolutely unequal;
fathers were sole guardians of their children and at death could
appoint one even of a child unborn; the age of consent was 12 years
and it was legal for a girl to marry at 12. An infinitesimal number of
women had a bit of School suffrage. In the rest of that century, under
the leadership of Miss Laura Clay, with the able assistance of such
women as Mrs. Josephine K. Henry, Mrs. Eliza Calvert Obenchain and
many others, much was accomplished in the improvement of the laws and
in other ways beneficial to women.

No State convention was held in 1900. Conventions took place annually
in the autumn from 1901 to 1917 inclusive in the following cities:
Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Newport, Richmond, Ashland,
Owensboro, most often in Lexington. The convention of 1918 was
postponed on account of the influenza epidemic and held in Louisville
March 11-12, 1919. The convention which should have been held in the
fall of this year was postponed because of work for ratification and
became a "victory" convention held Jan. 6-7, 1920, in Frankfort and
Lexington.

The first president of the Equal Rights Association, Miss Laura Clay
of Lexington, elected in 1888, served until November, 1912. The
constitution was then amended at her desire to prevent a president
from succeeding herself and to provide for a three-year term. Mrs.
Desha Breckinridge of Lexington was elected in November, 1912, and in
1915 Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Smith of Frankfort. In 1916, Mrs. Smith
resigning because of her election to the National Board, Mrs. John
Glover South of Frankfort was elected to fill out the unexpired term.
In March, 1919, Mrs. Breckinridge was again elected.

For many years the association worked on a non-dues-paying basis and
was supported by voluntary contributions. Increase of activity is
indicated by the following figures: The financial report for 1903
shows that $359 were spent; that for 1917 gives an expenditure of
$7,838. In 1912 there were 1,779 members, with organizations in 11
counties; 4,655 members were reported in November, 1913, and 10,577 in
November, 1914, with completely organized suffrage leagues