Following the death of suffragist Alice Paul in July 1977, a march was held in Washington D.C. to commemorate her life and work. Alice Paul successfully campaigned for women’s suffrage in 1917–1918 and played a major role in the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. Smithsonian photographers were on hand to document the event, which saw four thousand people march up Pennsylvania Avenue and rally in Lafayette Square on August 26, 1977. In addition to the march and rally, President Jimmy Carter also met with leaders of 80 women's groups to sign a proclamation designating August 26 as Women's Equality Day, a presidential tradition that had begun in 1973. Below are a selection of highlights from our recently digitized set of film from that day, the entirety of which is now available.
Participants in Alice Paul Memorial March carry a banner with the text of the 19th Amendment: "Equality of Rights Under the Law Shall not be Denied or Abridged by the United States or by any State on Account of Sex," August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11660-05.
Bella Abzug, former New York Congresswoman, Elizabeth Chittick, president of National Woman's Party (NWP), Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, women’s rights activist, and Midge Costanza, special assistant for women's affairs in the Carter administration lead the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11652-25.
President Jimmy Carter meets with leaders of 80 women's groups to sign a proclamation designating August 26 as Women's Equality Day, August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11661-14.
A participant holds up the D.C. Area Feminist Alliance Banner, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11621-05.
Alice Paul Memorial March participant with sash, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11624-03.
National Woman's Party (NWP) group and banner, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11627-20.
Organization of Chinese American Workers group and banner, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11627-23.
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom group and banner, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11628-01.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) group and banner, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11628-04.
A Petition to President Jimmy Carter concerning the Equal Rights Amendment, August 26, 1977, by Lee Stalsworth Jr., SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11628-10.
Woman riding horse at the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Jeff Tinsley, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11630-16.
Participant in the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Jeff Tinsley, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11632-16.
Participants in the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Diane L. Kuzio, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11636-14.
Participants in the Alice Paul Memorial March with "Failure is Impossible" banner, August 26, 1977, by Diane L. Kuzio, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11636-34.
National Council of Career Women group and sign, August 26, 1977, by Diane L. Kuzio, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11637-14.
"Women Strike for Peace" marchers, August 26, 1977, by Diane L. Kuzio, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11637-26.
Participants in the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Diane L. Kuzio, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11637-34.
"Break the Chains of Patriarchy and War" banner, August 26, 1977 by Roberta A. Diemer, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11647-06.
Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, women’s rights activist and original suffragist, autographs a "March Again for Equal Rights" sign, August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11649-21.
Participant in the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11649-27.
Edith Mayo, assistant curator in the Political History Division at the National Museum of History and Technology, now known as the National Museum of American History at the Alice Paul Memorial March, August 26, 1977, by Richard Hofmeister, SIA Acc. 11-009, 77-11652-32.
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