Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

People

Location

204 W 8th St, Erie, PA 16501, USA

Lat/Long

42.126119, -80.08785

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

Augusta Fleming, born in 1876, was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania. She served as the President of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Equal Franchise Association and the Erie League for Women Voters. Her house, located where this marker sits, served as the headquarters for a 1913 suffrage parade, which brought in large crowds to call for women’s suffrage.

A pre-established core of advocates for women’s suffrage existed in Erie prior to Fleming’s leadership roles, however, Fleming helped galvanize the community in the decade leading to the 19^th-Amendment. One such event that sparked excitement was the suffrage parade held in Erie, which was one of the earliest of its kind in the state. The parade formed at 1pm at Fleming’s house on July 8^th, 1913, and was accompanied by a band. A newspaper article published in the Erie Daily Times the day before recommend those marching wear “simple white frocks. If possible, and to provide themselves with “Pennsylvania-blue” sashes and simple white hats.” A banquet in the white and gold ball room of the hotel, The Lawrence, was scheduled for later in the evening.

Fleming remained socially and politically active in the years following the 19^th-Amendment. In her obituary, published in the Erie Morning News on July 25, 1949, Fleming was remembered as such:

Mrs. Fleming, who lived at 210 W. 8^th St., was one of the early organizers of the women’s suffrage movement, and after the granting of women’s voting rights, she served for many years as president of the Erie County Council of Republican Women and vice president of the state organization.[1]

She was delegate to three national Republican conventions and twice was offered her party’s nomination for congressman-at-large. She served two terms as a member of the Pennsylvania Board of Labor and Industry and one term as a trustee of state normal schools.

[1] Address listed is incorrect.