"Votes for Women" - 100th Anniv. Celebration of the founding of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia in Richmond on Nov. 20, 1909.

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The Equal Suffrage League of Virginia led the movement in Virginia for women's suffrage for ten years and would become the Virginia League of Women Voters in 1920 after women won the right to vote. The ESL's first meeting took place on November 20, 1909 at 919 West Franklin Street, the home of Anne Clay Crenshaw and her family. The Crenshaw family lived in the house for nearly 40 years. It was purchased by Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU) in the 1960s. Fittingly, the building that served as the host to the formation of the women's rights movement in Virginia now houses VCU's Center for Public Policy.

Information about the upcoming events to commemorate the 100th are below.

Click Here to learn more about the Crenshaw family and the founding of the

Equal Suffrage League of Va. in Richmond 100 years ago this month!

A week worth's of events is open to the public

- November 16th through the 20th, 2009 on the Monroe Park Campus of VCU.

Join Virginia Commonwealth University as it commemorates the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia, which took place Nov. 20, 1909, at 919 W. Franklin St., now VCU’s Crenshaw House. The ESL became the League of Women Voters of Virginia in 1920 shortly after the 19^th Amendment was ratified granting women the right to vote.

Nov. 16, 2009 - 7 p.m.

University Student Commons Theater

907 Floyd Ave.

“Iron Jawed Angels,” a 2004 HBO production.

Much of it filmed in Richmond, Va. Stars Hilary Swank and Anjelica Huston, and tells the story of the struggle of several suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th amendment.

Nov. 19, 2009 - 7 p.m.

University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballroom

907 Floyd Ave.

Librarian of Virginia Sandra G. Treadway, Ph.D. will present “A Lady’s Place is in the House [of Delegates]: Virginia Women in Politics, 1909-2009.”

Nov. 20, 2009 - Noon

Suffrage march and official renaming of the Crenshaw House

Participants will gather on the Shafer Court side of Ginter House, 901 W. Franklin St., and march to the Crenshaw House, 919 W. Franklin St.

Contact Ray Bonis at rfbonis@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1108 with questions.