Miya

__ Carrie Chapman Catt __

My name is Carrie Chapman Catt. I was born on January ninth 1859 in Ripon, Wisconsin. I moved to Charles City, Iowa when I was seven and that’s where I grew up. I started protecting my gender when I was six. In class one time my classmate’s hoopskirt fell to the ground. These boys started laughing. After the teacher fixed her hoopskirt the boys started teasing her so I came up and slapped them both across the face. A doctor is what I wanted to be when I was a little girl. I went to Iowa State College and graduated in 1886. I was a school principal for a few years and also a state organizer. Here is some information about my family. My mother’s name is Maria Lane. My father’s name is Lucius Lane. I had two brothers. I got married to Leo Chapman in 1885. A year later he died from an illness. After he died I went to California to stay with my aunt. When I stayed with her I became a news reporter. I moved back to Iowa 4 years later and I married
 * My name is Carrie Chapman Catt. I was born on January ninth, 1859 in Ripon, Wisconsin. I moved to Charles City, Iowa when I was seven and that’s where I grew up. I started protecting my gender when I was six. In class one time my classmate’s hoopskirt fell to the ground. These boys started laughing. After the teacher fixed her hoopskirt the boys started teasing her so I came up and slapped them both across the face. **
 * A doctor is what I wanted to be when I was a little girl. I went to Iowa State College and graduated in 1886. I was a school principal for a few years and also a state organizer.  **
 * Here is some information about my family. My mother’s name is Maria Lane. My father’s name is Lucius Lane. I had two brothers. I got married to Leo Chapman in 1885.He was a newspaper editor and publisher. A year later he died from an illness. After he died I went to California to stay with my aunt. When I stayed with her I became a news reporter. I moved back to Iowa 4 years later and I married Gorge Catt. He was a wealthy engineer. He died in 1905. **
 * When I moved back to Iowa I joined the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, also known as NAWSA. Suffrage means the right or privilege of voting. When I joined NAWSA I became a lecturer. Here is a part of a lecture I gave: **
 * “The vote is the emblem of your equality, women of America, the guarantee of your liberty. That vote of yours has cost millions of dollars and the lives of thousands of women. Money to carry on this work has been given usually as a sacrifice, and thousands of women have gone without things they wanted and could have had in order that they might help get the vote for you. Women have suffered agony of soul which you can never comprehend, that you and your daughters might inherit political freedom. That vote has been costly. Prize it!” I went to my first conference in Washington D.C. When I was there I lectured for the first time. Lectured means a prepared speech or talk on a particular subject given before an audience for the purpose of instruction. I spent many nights away from home when I was lecturer, but I did make over $100 a month. I was president twice. The members of NAWSA and I were so excited when the senate voted on an amendment for women’s rights to vote, but it didn’t pass. I went to South Dakota and was a representative for NAWSA. I was trying to help pass a referendum for women’s suffrage. A referendum is a vote on such a measure. Two years later I went to the Iowa suffrage convention and I became a recording secretary. When I was a recording secretary I made a small salary. I worked there for eight years. **
 * I died in my home at the age of 88. I died of a heart attack. ** ** In the adjustment of the new order of things, we women demand an equal voice; we shall accept nothing less **** .  **** That is a famous quote from me. ** ** By: Miya Leonard **