Carey Family papers

Male suffragists also played a part in the women’s suffrage movement. According to Wyoming historian T.A. Larson, veteran Indiana suffragist George W. Julian began a chain reaction when he introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress in December 1868 to give women the right to vote in all territories. New York suffragist Hamilton Willcox drew much public attention when he testified in a committee hearing that Julian’s bill would attract women to the territories. Although Julian’s bill died in committee, Edward M. Lee of Connecticut had taken note of the attract-women argument.

Colorado women secured voting rights by state referendum on November 7, 1893, becoming the first state to enact women's suffrage by popular referendum. Prominent national suffragist Susan B. Anthony's asks Carey to speak at NAWSA's upcoming convention due to Wyoming role as a women's suffrage leader in the nation. Anthony mentions Carrie Chapman Catt's suffrage work in Colorado.

Upton, a key national women's suffrage organizer, writes to Carey requesting he refute a newspaper story declaring women's suffrage has not been been a success. Upton asks Carey, "If you know of any good strong point which has been brought out in (I mean where women have had a good not-bad effect in politics) your State, will you not write to the New York Sun stating that case?"  

Carey writes to editors of the New York World refuting claims in their article dated March 8, 1894, disparaging women's suffrage using Wyoming as a case in point. It wasn't until 1917 when, after a massive campaign by suffragists, New York voters passed an amendment to the New York State Constitution granting women full suffrage. 

Mrs. Fletcher asks Carey specific questions regarding women's suffrage in Wyoming. She notes that she is not a supporter of women's suffrage. She is the wife of Rev. Dr. Orlin O. Fletcher, a Baptist minister who later became an educator at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Transcription included.

Charles Whipple writes of his and his father's regret at not seeing the Careys when they called. He notes that "…Mrs. Whipple was still true to her Wyoming training. They were anxious to see a woman who had voted, so she exhibited herself and made a speech." Transcription included

Due to Wyoming's lead role in women's suffrage and Carey's support of the same, Anthony writes to ask him to deliver a speech to a committee in charge of a women's suffrage amendment at the 1894 New York State Constitutional Convention. Her letter also mentions U.S. Rep. Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, an active supporter of women's suffrage upon whom Susan B.

Greenleaf, president of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association, responds to Carey in place of Susan B. Anthony who went to Kansas to further women's suffrage there. Greenleaf is arranging for Carey to speak in favor of women's suffrage to the suffrage committee at the New York State Constitutional Convention, although Carey's suggested date may be too late for the committee's public hearings. Transcription included.

E. H. Voorhees writes from Garnett, Kansas, to ask Carey questions regarding women's suffrage in Wyoming. At the time Kansas suffragists were organizing prior to a vote on a women's suffrage amendment to occur on  November 6, 1894. The amendment was defeated. Transcription included.

Greenleaf continues to negotiate with Carey regarding when he can speak before the suffrage committee at the New York State Constitutional Convention. Telegram reads: Could you give public address Albany June twenty sixth. 

Greenleaf urges Carey to confirm a date to speak before the suffrage committee at the New York State Constitutional Convention, noting that the committee will soon close public hearings. She references her telegram of June 22 asking if June 26 would work for him. Two days later, June 28, 1894, Carey did speak before the committee the final hearing. At the end of the hearings, the suffrage committee wrote a report opposing the women’s suffrage amendment. Discussion on this report, held from August 8 through 14, 1894, was attended by large numbers of suffragists.

Susan B. Anthony expresses her frustration with male legislators who she believes are politicizing women's suffrage, using events in Kansas an example. The desire to have Carey speak to the suffrage committee is evidenced by still another request by Anthony. Anthony references suffragists Harriet May Mills, Isabel Howland, and Kansas suffragist Jane "Jennie" Slocum.

Carey describes to prominent suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt his involvement in women's suffrage efforts over the years, voices his support for suffrage, explains his view of current national climate on suffrage, and expresses his disagreement with the current strategy by suffragists to gain federal ratification. Carey mentions the Hughes Alliance. President Woodrow Wilson opposed women's suffrage on the federal level.

Speech regarding the history of women's suffrage in Wyoming for a plaque commemorating passage of women's suffrage in the state in 1869. The plaque was placed on the building where the women's suffrage bill was introduced and passed by the first Wyoming legislature.