Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

People

Location

114 S 9th St, Richmond, IN 47374, USA

Lat/Long

39.826817, -84.890568

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

Esther G. White was many things: suffragist, journalist, politician, art collector, and the list goes on. She was the first woman whose name appeared on an official election ballot in Indiana, and throughout her political career she ran for the position of Mayor in Richmond, Indiana in 1921, 1925, and 1938, and for a congressional seat in 1926. Prior to the adoption of the Federal Suffrage amendment in 1920, White successfully ran to become a delegate to the state Republican convention—which occurred following a special hearing of the Wayne Circuit Court after her name was initially withheld from the ballot—becoming the only woman in attendance that year at a gathering of nearly 1,500. She was subsequently re-elected as a delegate in both 1922 and 1924. This marker sits at the site of White’s former home and commemorates her involvement in advocating for women’s right to vote.

Prior to these political bids White was active in the women’s suffrage movement, helping found the Richmond branch of the Woman’s Franchise League of Indiana, and attending several conventions and gatherings across the state. Raised by a Quaker family noted for their artistic abilities, White was immersed in a community early on that valued equality and creativity, both of which would factor into her later life. White worked in journalism for roughly fifty years, taking on various roles as a writer, editor, and publisher throughout her career. White used this experience to create her own newspaper, “The Little Paper,” to advocate for women’s suffrage and a number of other political and social causes she believed in. Along with the right to vote, “The Little Paper” included articles arguing against racial prejudice, low pay for teachers, and other places White saw inequality threaten someone’s rights. White was involved in nearly every aspect of the “The Little Paper,” authoring articles, designing the layout, and selling advertisement space to support the paper.

In addition to her political and social activism White supported Richmond’s arts community, helping bring national attention to the city. White passed away in 1954, leaving behind an impressive legacy as an advocate for women’s rights, a voice for equality, a stalwart supporter of the arts, and as a trailblazer for women entering the political arena.