Annual Suffrage Banquet Celebrates Women’s Voting Rights with Fundraiser in Knoxville

Annual Suffrage Banquet Set for Thursday in Knoxville

Knoxville is excited to host the Annual Suffrage Coalition’s Febb Burn Banquet and Fundraiser this Thursday, August 22, 2024. The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. and will take place at the Foundry, located in the World’s Fair Park.

Tickets for the banquet are priced at $104 each, a price that symbolizes one dollar for each year since women gained the right to vote back in August 1920. This pivotal event owes much to a letter written by Febb Burn to her son, state Representative Harry T. Burn. In her letter, she urged him to vote “Yes” on the ratification of the women’s right to vote. His crucial vote helped Tennessee become the final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, paving the way for women’s suffrage nationwide.

A unique collection of historical artifacts related to the suffrage movement can be found in the McClung Collection, where important documents from both Febb Burn and activist Lizzie Crozier French are preserved. The Suffrage Coalition is using this banquet to further their mission of locating, preserving, and promoting Tennessee’s rich suffrage history.

Events Planned for the Evening

This year’s banquet promises to be vibrant and engaging, featuring an art show, a silent auction, and cutouts of notable Tennessee suffragists. Guests can also look forward to enjoying new music by Candace Corrigan and a timeline display that chronicles the struggle for suffrage from 1848 to 1920. Attendees will get a sneak peek at items that are planned for display in a future suffrage museum.

The coalition envisions a dynamically interactive Suffrage Museum that will serve as a resource for teachers, students, researchers, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of women’s rights.

Efforts to Preserve the Sterchi-Audigier Home

At a recent Neighborhood Resource Fair, members from the Suffrage Coalition shared details about their ongoing efforts to purchase and renovate the Sterchi-Audigier Home, situated at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Cherry Street. This historic mansion, built in 1925, has been attracting interest for several years as local non-profits aim to preserve its significance. A fire at the property last year put previous plans to renovate it on hold, yet the coalition remains optimistic as they work towards purchasing this remarkable building.

According to coalition coordinator Wanda Sobieski, the Sterchi-Audigier residence is an ideal location for a Suffrage Museum. With a spacious two-level auditorium behind the home, there will be plenty of room for community events, private functions, fundraisers, and exhibitions showcasing a plethora of suffrage-related artifacts.

Sobieski mentioned that her travels across various suffrage sites in the country showcased the importance and richness of their local collection, which might rival those elsewhere. Moreover, the coalition aims to apply for city and state grants to support the property’s purchase and upkeep.

Goals for the Future

The establishment of the museum signifies just one part of the Suffrage Coalition’s broader goals. The coalition has already achieved two significant milestones: the installation of a statue in Market Square and the digitization of the Burn scrapbook and relevant papers, allowing for public access.

With hopes that the museum will eventually serve as an early voting location and voter registration area, the Sterchi home might soon play a crucial role in both preserving history and fostering civic engagement.

For those interested in attending the banquet or supporting the Suffrage Coalition’s mission, tickets are available at suffragecoalition.org. Donations to help the coalition purchase the Sterchi-Audigier Home can also be made online or sent via mail to the organization’s address.

For more information about the Suffrage Coalition and their future plans, you can contact them at 865-719-0597.