Knoxville Set to Celebrate Women’s Voting Rights at Annual Suffrage Banquet

Knoxville Prepares for Annual Suffrage Banquet

Knoxville is gearing up for the Annual Febb Burn Banquet and Fundraiser, set to take place this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Foundry, located in the iconic World’s Fair Park. This event aims to raise funds for the Suffrage Coalition while celebrating a significant part of history: the ratification of women’s right to vote.

Tickets and Historical Significance

Tickets for the banquet are priced at $104 each, symbolizing one dollar for every year women have enjoyed voting rights in the United States since 1920. This milestone was largely achieved due to the efforts of Febb Burn, who wrote a pivotal letter to her son, state Representative Harry T. Burn. In her letter, she urged him to vote “Yes” on the ratification of the 19th Amendment, making Tennessee the final state needed to pass the amendment nationwide.

The letter is part of the McClung Collection, which also houses the papers of another local suffrage leader, Lizzie Crozier French. The Suffrage Coalition invites community members to support their mission of finding and preserving Tennessee’s rich suffrage history.

An Evening of Activities

The banquet promises a diverse program for attendees. Guests can look forward to an art show and sale, a silent auction, and artistic displays featuring notable Tennessee suffragists. Entertainment will include new music from Candace Corrigan and an educational display showcasing a suffrage timeline from 1848 to 1920. Additionally, participants will get a sneak peek of future exhibits planned for a suffrage museum.

The coalition believes that a dynamically organized Suffrage Museum could benefit teachers, students, researchers, and anyone interested in learning about this essential chapter in history. During a recent Neighborhood Resource Fair, coalition members expressed excitement about their plans to secure a location for the museum.

Future Plans for the Sterchi-Audigier Home

Wanda Sobieski, the coordinator for the Suffrage Coalition, discussed the potential of the Sterchi-Audigier Home, situated at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Cherry Street, as a suitable venue for the museum. The home, built in 1925, has been the subject of preservation efforts for several years.

Originally, plans were made to convert the grand old mansion into a parole office. However, a fire in 2023 put those plans on hold. Sobieski noted that the residence is both structurally sound and aesthetically appealing, with enough space to host community and private events, fundraisers, and office work.

Goals of the Suffrage Coalition

According to Sobieski, the first two goals of the coalition—establishing the Market Square statue and digitizing the Burn Scrapbook and papers—have already been accomplished. The purchase of the Sterchi-Audigier home and the establishment of a museum represent the organization’s third objective.

The coalition plans to seek city and state grants to assist with the home’s acquisition and maintenance. They envision the museum serving not just as a place to display artifacts related to women’s suffrage, but also as a venue for activism, education, and community engagement. The museum could become an important site for early voting and registering voters in the community.

How to Get Involved

Those interested in attending the banquet can purchase tickets and find more information through the Suffrage Coalition’s website at suffragecoalition.org. Donations can also be made online or sent via mail to the Suffrage Coalition at P.O. Box 14322, Knoxville, TN 37914. For additional inquiries about the project, individuals can contact the coalition at 865-719-0597.

The Annual Suffrage Banquet is not just a celebration, but a reminder of the ongoing efforts to promote social and political justice within the community.