Event Will Feature Community Leaders, Elected Officials,
and Special Guest Rosanne Cash
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A century ago, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, finally securing women’s right to vote.
One hundred years later to the day, Nashville Public Library will host another milestone in the city’s history and wants everyone to join them.
On Tuesday, August 18 at 11:30 a.m. CST, the library will host a virtual opening of Votes for Women. Viewers can watch the event on the library’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/votesforwomenopening.
Votes for Women is a new, permanent exhibit at the Main Library in downtown Nashville. The space, dedicated to showcasing Nashville’s role in the 19th Amendment, will also serve to jump start community conversations about the issues surrounding women and girls, power and democracy today. The virtual opening will culminate at noon, when bells across the city will ring out in celebration.
A century ago, cities across the country rang bells to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Nashville, however, remained quiet at the time.
The library is ending that silence with this celebration.
Additionally, the online celebration will feature community leaders, elected officials, 2020 Nashville Youth Poet Laureate Alora Young and special guest Rosanne Cash. Cash has a long history of using her status as a music idol to advocate for women and girls everywhere. In addition to her numerous achievements, including four Grammy Award wins and her induction into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2015, Cash narrated the PBS documentary “By One Vote: Woman Suffrage in the South.”
“Nashville Public Library is both thrilled and honored to have Rosanne Cash, Alora Young, and other prominent community leaders join us for this celebration,” said Kent Oliver, library director.
“Their participation heightens an already great event into something truly special for our city,” he continued. “This event is all about bringing our community together and celebrating the amazing women and girls who call Nashville home.”
About Votes for Women
Set to open virtually on August 18, Votes for Women is a permanent exhibit at the Main Library in downtown Nashville dedicated to the legacy of the 19th Amendment. Learn more about Votes for Women on the library’s website.
NPL would like to thank media partner News Channel 5 for their continued promotion of “I Ring the Bell,” a community social media campaign leading up to the August 18 virtual opening and the Votes for Women project.