By Mirella Flores
Suffragist, social reformer, and 2016 National Women’s History Month Honorees, Inez Milholland, ends our first week of Women’s History Month Trivia Contest questions, and what a way to go out!
Milholland attended Vassar College, where she excelled as a student. During a trip to London during the summer after her sophomore year, Milholland meet Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and was transformed into an ardent political radical. While in London, Milholland participated in a number of Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) demonstrations. Upon her return to Vassar, Milholland wrote the Vassar Miscellany about the English Suffragettes, and noted her disappointment with American woman’s efforts. Milholland was active in the Suffrage movement at Vassar, even after the President banned Suffrage meetings. During her last year at Vassar, Milholland staged a series of rooms featuring women in living tableaus, which demonstrated the value of Suffrage to the fellow students.
After her graduation from Vassar in 1909, Milholland made her first appearance as a Suffrage speaker when she stopped a parade for President William Howard Taft. After being rejected from the law schools at Yale, Harvard, and Columbia because of being a woman, Milholland attended the New York University School of Law from which she received a law degree in 1912. While a law student, Milholland continued to be involved in the Women’s Suffrage, as well as other social advocacy, such as the shirtwaist and laundry worker strikes in New York City. Miholland was arrested at this demonstration. After getting her law degree, Milholland was a furious advocate for labor reforms. Milholland pushed for better wages and hours for the girls working in New York City’s many department stores, and the city’s women factory workers.
In 1913, Milholland helped organize the Suffrage parade in Washington D.C. the day before President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated. This became Milholland’s most memorable public appearance as led the parade through crowds of drunken men, all while riding a large white horse and wearing a crown and long white cape.
Three years alter, Milholland joined the National Women’s Party in support for a universal Suffrage constitutional amendment. Milholland had the role of the “Flying Envoy,” and as such she tour the Western states seeking to gain popular support. On October 19, 1916 as she was delivering an address in Los Angeles, CA, Milholland suddenly collapsed after having asked, “Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty.” Milholland was hospitalized and passed away 10 days later due to anemia.
Milholland’s legacy is one of fighting for the recognizing of the humanity of all classes and genders. Although she did not get to see the passing of the 19th amendment, Milholland worked tirelessly for this cause.