Women Suffragists Visit Port Angeles Library



Rebecca Redshaw (left) talks to Stephanie Speicher,
Caitlin Macy-Beck (center) and Sharon DelaBarre (right



Actors portraying activists from the women’s suffrage movement greeted the attendees of the showing of Iron Jawed Angels, a film depicting the struggles of women who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment. The three actors were sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Clallam County who co-sponsored the event at the Port Angeles Main Library on March 18.

Actresses Caitlin Macy-Beckwith, Stephanie Speicher, and Sharon DelaBarre, introduced the program with a moving rendition of Will the Circle be Unbroken followed by an introduction by film critic, Rebecca Redshaw.



Sharon DelaBarre  as
Carrie Chapman Catt

Carrie Chapman Catt (DelaBarre) greeted people at the door with a firm handshake and self-introduction setting the mood of the docudrama by modeling similar tactics used by suffragettes in their successful campaign for the right to vote. In 1920, Catt founded the League of Women Voters upon ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Stephanie Speicher as Alice Paul

Speicher, as Alice Paul, was raised as a Quaker and remembers seeing pictures of early 20th century suffragists including Elizabeth Cady Stanton as she was growing up on the East Coast. In researching her character, Speicher found the following quote from Paul particularly insightful: "When the Quakers were founded...one of their principles was and is equality of the sexes. So I never had any other idea...the principle was always there."  



Caitlin Macy-Beckwith
as Lucy Burns

Macy-Beckwith, portraying Lucy Burns, a co-founder of the National Women’s Party, bore a striking resemblance to the real life suffragist. Macy-Beckwith commented she was brought to tears while watching the film and said she will no longer take her voting rights for granted.





“Washington was the 5th state to grant women the right to vote,” (more about this) explained League president, Lounette Templeton. “After seeing this film I think you will never miss another chance to vote.“

Redshaw conducted a question and answer session post-screening and the audience voiced their reaction to the film and shared their appreciation for all the efforts of the League of Women Voters.



The evening concluded with the “suffragists” reciting activist/songwriter, Annie Lennox’s moving essay (more about this) on the status of women in the 21st century).

Funding for licensing the film was generously provided by the Port Angeles Friends of the Library. More about joining the Port Angeles Friends of the Library.



Technology for all

Circulation Supervisor Noah Glaude pats down the Selectric typewriter before returning it to its post.

Did you know the Port Angeles Library provides a typewriter for people who need to fill out paper forms? When the aged Selectric started acting squirrelly recently, we thought the Library's public typewriter might need to be retired forever. But Noah was able to make it operable, even though he'd never touched a typewriter before!

For more information about the public typewriter, as well as other newer technology at the Library, please ask any staff member, call the Library at 360-417-8500, or email PortAngeles@nols.org.

Sequim Technology Fair

Last Saturday, the NOLS team of Lauren and Lauren (Systems Librarian Lauren Corder and Sequim Branch Manager Lauren Dahlgren) helped staff the NOLS booth at Sequim's first ever Tech Fair, held at the high school. They demonstrated many of the Library's technology resources, including downloadable audio books and eBooks, self-contained mp3 players loaded with individual audio books, web-based databases on subjects like car repair and genealogy, and much more. Pictured: Lauren Corder.