The Kansas Suffragist Memorial Committee, in collaboration with the Kansas Historical Society, is excited to announce the dedication of a memorial honoring Kansas women who fought for the right to vote. The dedication ceremony will take place at noon on Jan. 29, 2025 (Kansas Day), in the first-floor Rotunda of the Kansas Capitol.
The Kansas Suffragist Memorial Committee was formed through the combined efforts of the League of Women Voters of Kansas (LWVK) and the Kansas American Association of University Women (AAUW), which united to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment.
The committee's mission is to honor Kansas women who played a significant role in the statewide and national struggle for women's voting rights. This public art piece aims to inspire reflection on Kansas's history, educate people about important Kansas figures, and instill these values in future generations.
The committee worked closely with the Capitol Preservation Committee to bring the mural to life. Created by artist Phyllis Garibay-Coon, the mural depicts thirteen Kansas suffragists from across the state, arranged in a V formation. The mural spans 60 years, from 1859 to 1919, showcasing figures such as Clarina Nichols from Quindaro, who achieved voting rights for women in school elections in 1859, and Jane Brooks of Wichita, who served as the president of the Kansas Equal Suffrage Association in 1919. The artist aims to tell a story through her artwork.
The upper part of the mural is adorned with numerous suffragists dressed in white, while various symbols representing Kansas and women's actions fill this emotionally impactful piece. A banner at the top displays the wording of the 1912 Kansas Constitutional amendment that granted women full suffrage.
Ms. Garibay-Coon, the daughter of a third-generation farmer from Kingman County, hopes that this mural will serve as a platform for sharing truth and knowledge with all visitors to the Capitol building. She invites everyone to attend the dedication on Wednesday, Jan. 29.