The Scarsdale Historical Society will premiere its newest documentary, Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists, in partnership with the Scarsdale Public Library on Monday, December 16th at 6:15 PM and 7:30 PM in the Scott Room of the library. This half-hour film tells the little-known story of the courageous women behind the suffrage movement in Scarsdale and how their work shaped the community.
Women Rising features trailblazers like Florence Bethell who lectured, wrote, marched and lobbied for womens’ right to vote - at a village, state and national level. In the face of apathetic and sometimes hostile attitudes toward woman suffrage, the women used creative approaches to educate Scarsdale women on suffrage - from porch parties to suffrage dances.
Their cause was closely tied to service projects that left a lasting legacy on this village. Not only did they publish the Scarsdale Inquirer newspaper, but the women initiated many of Scarsdale’s most important civic and arts programs. Among the organizations the suffragists and committees of the Woman's Club sparked or expanded are the Scarsdale League of Women's Voters, the Visiting Nurse Services, the Scarsdale Foundation, the Scarsdale Ambulance Corp, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Services, the Girl Scouts, the Wayside Players, the Scarsdale Women's Exchange and the Scarsdale Art Association.
Women Rising is narrated by trustee and Associate Scarsdale Village Historian historian Leslie Chang and includes interviews with Barbara Davis, Director of the Westchester County Historical Society, Linda Leavitt, former Editor of the Scarsdale Inquirer, Scarsdale Public Library Local History Librarian, Daniel Glauber, and Nancy Horrigan, Archivist for the Scarsdale Woman’s Club. The film is written and directed by Lesley Topping and produced by the Scarsdale Historical Society.
Prior to making this film, very little was known about Bethell and her circle of like-minded friends, except for newspaper articles. “The Village archives had very few records and photos of the women, so Leslie Chang tracked down the women’s descendants all over the country; from California, to Mississippi to Martha’s Vineyard,” stated filmmaker Lesley Topping. “Thanks to the women’s descendants, Dan Glauber, and all of the film’s participants, the film unearths and preserves many untold stories and unseen photos.”
“Women Rising captures the spirit, bravery and resilience of the Scarsdale Suffragists,” stated Randy Guggenheimer, President of the Scarsdale Historical Society. “Their crusade was a pivotal step in the continued battle for equal women’s rights and suffrage.”
Following the screening there will be a Q&A with the film’s participants. Admission to the film is free. The event is co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Public Library. The entire collection of the organization’s films can be viewed here.
The public can register for the premiere here.
About the Scarsdale Historical Society
The Scarsdale Historical Society exists to discover, preserve and disseminate historical information, as well as inspire others to learn about and contribute to the history of Scarsdale and the Central Mid-Westchester Region. The Scarsdale Historical Society accepts grant applications for projects that meet its mission, particularly those that will inspire others to learn about the history of Scarsdale and the surrounding communities. Learn more at www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.
About the Library
The mission of the Scarsdale Public Library is to encourage the joy of reading, the exploration of ideas, and the pursuit of lifelong learning for the children and adults of our community. To learn more about the Library and the latest program and services available, visit scarsdalelibrary.org.
