Leasa Graves, assistant director of the National Women's History Alliance, will present Ripe for Picking: The Impact of the Sonoma County Suffrage Movement. Ms. Graves will explore the topic of suffrage and role of Sarah Latimer Finley (1848-1937) as the Sonoma County Press Chairman of the Political Equality Association in detail.

Leasa and I are co-chairs of the Education and History Committee of WE 2020 – a countywide collaboration initiated by Supervisor Lynda Hopkins that has organized to commemorate the women’s suffrage centennial by honoring the past, celebrating the present, and advocating for the rights of all women of the future.

We hope Leasa's presentation will be the first of several events offered around Sonoma County as we and others prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment which was approved by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920.

Do you or an organization you are affiliated with have plans to commemorate this milestone of democracy? The Centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to research the history of the women's suffrage movement, examining closely those who were included and excluded and understanding the movement's relevance to issues of equal rights today? We'd love to hear from you. Please respond by using this simple survey.

Also, remember with advanced planning, the Sonoma County Library may be able to host your event, exhibit, etc. at one or more of our branches. For more information, please contact Katherine J. Rinehart at krinehart@sonomalibrary.org