JCC professor Traci Langworthy (left) and Dr. Shannon Risk of Niagara University

BEMUS POINT – The Chautauqua County Historical Society, in partnership with the Bemus Point Historical Society, will present a special lecture on the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in New York State on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. at Bemus Point United Methodist Church (4954 Bemus – Ellery Rd, Bemus Point, NY).

Traci Langworthy, Historian and Jamestown Community College Professor, will join Dr. Shannon Risk, Niagara University History Professor, in a joint presentation outlining the women’s suffrage movement in New York State, which began in the mid-19th century and continued until women in the state were finally given the right to vote in 1917. Risk and Langworthy will also spend time focusing on notable suffragists and organizations that took root here in Western New York and Chautauqua County.

In addition to the presentation by Risk and Langworthy, a special reenactment will also take place featuring actual remarks that were made at the time by notable anti-suffragists, as presented by local actor Robert Terreberry, with a rebuttal that was originally prepared by suffragist Ophelia Griffith of the Fluvanna Political Equality Club, as portrayed by reenactor Kimberly Peterson Bentley.

Another highlight of the day’s event will be opening remarks from New York State Senator Catherine Young, whose 57th Senate District includes Chautauqua County. Chautauqua County Historical Society President and former editor of the Jamestown Post-Journal Cristie Herbst will host the event and welcome attendees.

“With 2017 serving as the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in New York State, we thought it fitting to have an event to focus on this important anniversary,” explains Jason Sample, Chautauqua County Historical Society trustee and programming committee chair. “Our county played a prominent role in the women’s suffrage movement and we look forward to sharing some of those details with attendees during this very special event.”

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will also be on hand as a “friends of the event” to provide literature and details on its organization.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, call the Historical Society at (716) 326-2977 or email CCHS@McClurgMuseum.org.