Alpha Suffrage Club
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The Alpha Suffrage Club is believed to be the first black women’s suffrage association in the United States. It began in Chicago, Illinois in 1913 under the initiative of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and her white colleague, Belle Squire. The club had many achievements, and gained popularity within the African American community within Chicago. By 1916 the club had nearly 200 members; however political support for the group later burgeoned into the thousands. The club also published a newsletter, the Alpha Suffrage Record.
On June 10, 1919 black and white suffragettes alike saw their goal realized with Illinois becoming the first state to approve the Susan B. Anthony Amendment which toted equal voting rights for both sexes. Following that victory, the efforts of the Alpha shifted towards the campaign to elect the first African-American alderman in Chicago. Initial canvassing efforts by African-American women in Chicago’s Ward 2 were met with resistance, and the club’s candidate was not elected. However, their efforts were noticed by the Republican Party presence who sent two delegates to the club’s regular meetings. The women were encouraged to keep campaigning, with the promise that an African-American candidate would be nominated by the party in a coming election. In 1915, their efforts were rewarded with Ward 2 electing Oscar De Priest, the first African-American alderman.
The Alpha Suffrage Club served not only to secure women’s rights within Illinois and the greater United States, but also to spread significant support for, and within, the African-American population.
