Celebrating the 19th Amendment: Time Travel to the Women's Suffrage Parade in 1913

 

Celebrating the 19th Amendment: 

Time Travel to the Women's Suffrage Parade in 1913

On the steps of the Treasury allegorical tableau is taking place. The procession is intended to show "what woman is striving to achieve, as well as what she has so far attained." The allegory portrays "those ideals toward which both men and women have been struggling through the ages and toward which, in co-operation and equality, they will continue to strive." The band plays "The Star Spangled Banner"

Columbia, robed in a blue velvet mantle lined with the stars and stripes, wearing a white silk dress, breast plate and helmet and carrying an eagle-topped scepter in her right hand, emerges from behind the Treasury columns and descends the Treasury steps to the edge of the plaza. She will meet the personified nation and her ideals.

After saluting the audience, Columbia then summons Justice who enters to the melodies of Wagner's "Pilgrim's Chorus." Dressed in robes of purple, sword in hand, Justice moves across the stage with her 12 attendants. 

Justice's attendants manipulate large parchment-like scrolls as they move towards Columbia.

Next comes Charity in robes of blue led by a girl and boy, followed by older girls. They arrive to the tune of Handel's "Largo." After greeting Columbia, Charity takes her place at the front of the plaza at stage left, with Justice and her crew assembled at stage right.