V.I. Women’s History Includes Suffragettes Advocating for the Vote

After being introduced to Congress in 1878, the 19th Amendment giving American women the constitutional right to vote, was not approved until 1919 and ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. Due to governmental and geographical circumstances, the right was not extended to Virgin Islands’ women until 1935.

According to Elizabeth A. Novara, historian in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, wrote in 2020 that some women across the country could vote by 1919 — property owners of a certain age and with other qualifications. Others were deemed eligible voted in local and state elections and women in the Wyoming territory voted in 1869 before Wyoming gained statehood.

In 1917, the Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark by the United States for $25 million and the U.S. Navy governed the islands until 1931. The Navy followed Danish law until a local government was formed.

In 1932, Virgin Islanders were granted citizenship and men were allowed to vote if they met certain requirements — if they were at least 25 years old, owned property, demonstrated income to support a family and were “of good moral character.”

Edith Williams, a school principal on St. Thomas was known for her community involvement and starting the school lunch program, was “highly respected in the community,” said her great-niece, Janice Brooks of St. Croix. A statue of Williams — “the mother of education” stands in downtown Charlotte Amalie.