The League of Women Voters grew out of eighty years of protest. In 1890, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was formed with the sole purpose of securing the right to vote for women. When this goal was achieved in 1919, NAWSA merged with the National Council of Women Voters to create a new organization, the League of Women Voters of the United States. Referred to as a “mighty political experiment,” it aimed to help newly enfranchised women exercise their right to vote. 

On March 24, 1919, the Minnesota Legislature granted the women of Minnesota  the right to vote for presidential electors. Then, on Oct. 29, 1919, the Minnesota Suffrage Association dissolved and became a branch of the national League of Women Voters for the purpose of completing full enfranchisement of women and increasing the effectiveness of women’s votes in furthering better government.

On the 25th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, an article in the New Ulm Review  recognized Solveig (Mrs. A.B.) Gislason as the founder of the New Ulm League of Women Voters.   Charter members were Mrs. Albert Ascher, Mrs. A.E. Eggers, Mrs. Andreen, Mrs. J.C. Engel, Mrs. Hugo Schnobrich, Mrs. E. G. Lang, and Mrs. Carl Fritsche.

In 1964, the LWV published a booklet entitled “Your Brown County” giving citizens information about county government.

In 1986, the 50th anniversary celebration of New Ulm’s League was attended by Joan Growe, who was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1973 to 1974. She then served as the Secretary of State of Minnesota from 1975 to 1999. Known for her work encouraging voter participation, her 24-year tenure was the second longest of any secretary of state in Minnesota’s history.

The 80th birthday of the LWV-NU was commemorated on March 3, 2016, with a celebration at The Lind House.

Now, early in our second century, the strength of the League of Women Voters continues to grow with increasing membership and the grassroots development of new chapters across the country.

If you are interested in defending democracy and empowering voters, please join us. The League of Women Voters of New Ulm meets at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

“Empowering Voters” is a program of the League of Women Voters – New Ulm, a trusted source of nonpartisan voter information, serving New Ulm and the Brown County area to ensure free, fair and safe elections. To learn more, visit newulm.lwv.org or follow our Facebook page.

— Submitted by the League of Women Voters