Libraries to Provide Display for Arkansas Women in Politics Event Sunday

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Join the Washington County Historical Society and the University of Arkansas Libraries for a Distinguished Lecture with Janine Parry, professor of political science at the U of A, who will present "The Nice Lady of Arkansas Politics: Virginia Johnson and the 1968 Governor's Race" at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the Winslow Branch Library, located at 351 Highway 71. Refreshments and local music will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

The University Libraries will provide a display of materials titled "Maud Duncan, the Winslow American." Duncan was a pharmacist and owner of the Winslow American newspaper who successfully ran for mayor of Winslow in 1925. The city council at that time was entirely comprised of women, and the group was referred to as the "petticoat government."

"Special Collections is always interested in partnering with organizations in our community in support of the scholarship of the university's faculty through its collecting efforts," said Lori Birrell, head of Special Collections. "The items on display represent just one of those connections to current research being done by our faculty."

This event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which gave female citizens the right to vote in the United States, although denial of citizenship was used to disenfranchise African American, Native American and Asian American women residing in the United States at the time.