Amelia Himes Walker’s "Jailed for Freedom" Pin
name: label: associated institution
content: National Woman's Party
label: associated person
content: Walker, Amelia Himes
notes: label: Description
content: In January 1917, discouraged by President Wilson’s continued opposition to the suffrage amendment, Alice Paul, the leader of the National Woman’s Party (NWP) posted pickets at the White House gates—the first people to ever picket the White House. These “silent sentinels” stayed on duty in all weather and in the face of threats, taunts, and physical violence. Using their banners and their quiet courage they asked, “Mr. President How Long Must Women Wait for their Liberty?” and “Mr. President What Will you do for Woman Suffrage?” Hoping to provoke a response, the language on the banners became more inflammatory. They used the president’s own words against him and pointed out the hypocrisy of his leading the country into the First World War to defend freedom while denying it to the women of his own country. Crowds who believed the pickets’ activities were disloyal in a time of war attacked the suffragists and destroyed their banners. In July the police began arresting the pickets for “obstruction of traffic.” When they refused to pay fines they were imprisoned. When they went on hunger strikes to demand the rights of political prisoners they were forcibly fed—a painful and invasive procedure. The pickets continued despite the risk. This pin was given to Amelia Himes Walker, a long time women’s rights activist. Walker was arrested on July 14, 1917 and served 60 days in the Occoquan Workhouse. Reports of the long sentences, abuse, and the courage of the suffragists became public and all prisoners were released in November.
label: Description
content: In a December ceremony the imprisoned suffragists were awarded with small silver pins in the shape of prison doors with heart-shaped locks. The “jailed for freedom” pins were designed by Nina Allender.
label: Description
content: The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution enfranchising women was ratified in August 1920.
topic: label: used
content: Women's Rights
label: general subject association
content: Women's Suffrage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, Womens History/Reform Movements Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
label: See more items in
content: Souvenir Nation
label: See more items in
content: American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
label: See more items in
content: Woman Suffrage
label: Exhibition
content: American Democracy
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Amelia Himes Walker
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PL.229385.03
label: catalog number
content: 229385.03
label: accession number
content: 229385
objectType: label: Object Name
content: pin
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: silver, sterling (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/2 in x 1 in x 1/4 in; 3.81 cm x 2.54 cm x .635 cm