The Manitoba Museum is on the hunt for artifacts relating to the first time women were allowed to vote in the province.
A new exhibit called “Nice Women Don’t Want the Vote” will open at the museum on November 5, 2015. The title comes from the words uttered by former Manitoba Premier Sir Rodmond Roblin during a heated exchange with Nellie McClung.
“Social and political movements don’t leave many objects behind,” said Roland Sawatsky, curator of history at the Manitoba Museum, “Things like banners, flags, and pamphlets are often lost or thrown away after a movement succeeds (or fades). But we’re not just looking for political statements. Everyday objects that are in some way connected to the Suffragist movement, like a dress or pen or shoes, would be just as welcome.”
The exhibit will commemorate the 100th anniversary when the Manitoba Legislature amended the Manitoba Election Act on January 28, 1916 to allow women to vote.
The travelling version of the exhibit will consist of four cases, including an interactive audio component featuring a selection of oral history clips. The other three cases will contain artifacts, historical photos and documents.
“Nice Women Don’t Want to Vote” will run until February 9, 2016 before travelling for the next eight months across Manitoba prior to open at the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa on November 17, 2016.
Anyone with artifacts or a story for the exhibit should contact Roland Sawatzky at (204) 988-0634 or rsawatzky@manitobamuseum.ca.
