Additional papers of Mary J. Coggeshall, 1867-1912

These papers of Mary J. Coggeshall document her involvement in suffrage activism, both in Iowa and nationally, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The collection includes handwritten notes and drafts for Coggeshall's speeches before suffrage clubs, as well as at local women's clubs. Many of these dealt with women's legal rights in different states and nations, as well as philosophical inquiries into women's status in the United States, and United States history. A few of the speeches found here are related to those in A-13, another collection of Coggeshall's papers held by the Schlesinger Library; these are noted in the inventory. Also included is a small notebook containing Coggeshall's handwritten minutes from meetings of the Iowa Equal Suffrage Association in 1884 to 1887. Suffrage memorabilia includes ribbons from many years of Iowa Equal Suffrage Association and National American Woman Suffrage Association conventions, as well as "votes for women" pennants and small flags. Suffrage print ephemera includes an 1897 calendar with images of suffrage leaders; brochures, leaflets, flyers, and convention programs. The collection includes some family correspondence, and numerous postcards received by Coggeshall during the last years of her life. Some postcards are from suffrage activists, or had suffrage messages, but most describe travels or everyday activities of friends. Several are from Maud Wood Park while on her around-the-world trip to learn about international women's rights. Also included are pages from a scrapbook (with small portrait prints glued on) and a few photographs. One folder contains Coggeshall's daughter Corinne Coggeshall Lingenfelter's speeches to fellow Drake alumni, and an agenda for the Portia Club.

The collection is arranged alphabetically; folders were titled by the archivist.

Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be digitized and available online.