Blazing a Trail — A New Monument Rises Behind Memphis Law

BLAZING ATrail

A NEW MONUMENT RISES BEHIND MEMPHIS LAW

By Ryan Jones

For years, the promenade behind the law school has been a sleepy, yet peaceful, space full of Memphians taking advantage of the greenspace and paved trails running the length of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. But this spring a new monument was installed that will bring many more downtown residents, tourists and law students looking to take in a bit of history alongside the panoramic views. The new monument honors trailblazers of the women’s suffrage movement from Shelby County who participated in nonviolent efforts to win the right to vote for American women. In the larger context of the national movement,

Tennessee itself was vitally important to the suffrage cause, as it was the final state to ratify the 19th Amendment, with which women won the right to vote.

The design of the monument features six busts sculpted by noted Tennessee sculptor Alan

LeQuire, along with a sculptural depiction of the “100 Year March,” a 70-foot long series of 9-foot tall wall panels representing women marching for their rights from 1918 to 2019.

Attached to these wall panels are etched glass portraits and bios of individuals who were instrumental in the woman suffrage movement as well as those whose careers were made possible by the suffragists’ victory.

“This monument is going to be great for heritage tourism. We wanted to focus on those who were instrumental in the suffrage movement, as well as those women whose political careers were made possible by the suffragists’ victory,” said Paula Casey, chair of the Memphis Suffrage Monument Committee.

“When people come here to celebrate this history and to acknowledge the accomplishments of these people, I hope that they will realize how hard-fought that vote was,” said Casey. “This is something that is beautiful, informative, educational — and it should give Memphians a sense of pride.”

This is something that is beautiful, informative, EDUCATIONAL — AND it should give Memphians a sense of pride."

Equality Trailblazers Honored with Busts:

Ida B. Wells

Journalist, anti-lynching campaigner, later suffragist

Charl Ormond Williams

A nationally known educator who coordinated state ratification efforts, stood by Gov. Roberts when he signed ratification papers

Rep. Lois DeBerry

First female Speaker Pro Tempore in Tennessee legislature, 40 years of public service

Rep. Joe Hanover

House floor leader who kept pro-suffrage votes together, an ally of Carrie Chapman Catt, attorney, humanitarian

Mary Church Terrell

Suffragist, champion of racial and gender equality

Marion Griffin

First woman to practice law in the State of Tennessee, the first woman elected to state House

Lide Smith Meriwether

Early suffragist who had national recognition

Equality Trailblazers Honored with Etched Portraits and Narratives in Glass:

Lulu Colyar Reese

Later suffragist located in Nashville in 1920 Alma H. Law

First woman to serve on Shelby County Quarterly Court, served until her death in 1947

Maxine Smith

Civil rights legend, NAACP Executive Director, registered large numbers of women to vote

Minerva Johnican

First black female on County Commission and City Council, ran for city mayor in 1987, was a nationally recognized Criminal Court Clerk

Frances Grant Loring

Women’s rights and civil rights activist, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a founding member of the Association for Women Attorneys, Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association

Happy Snowden Jones

Founding member of Panel of American Women, helped avert second sanitation workers’ strike, the first donor to this monument, a feminist philanthropist who was the benefactor of The Perfect 36: Tennessee Delivers Woman Suffrage book, e-book and audiobook