Independence Day

A Patriotic Hymn for Girls

Come, little girls, and let met teach
The truths of Independence Day,
Lest patriotic song and speech
Should lead your little minds astray,
Lest you should fancy you would be
Extolled for wishing to be free.

You've learnt whence governments derive
Their powers-their just powers, rather;
And how your fathers had to strive
(But never imitate your father),
And how we've all enjoyed since then
Democracy-at least for men.

Learn now that each familiar phrase
Does not refer to such as you,
And when you sing your country's lays
Amend them thus, to make them true:
"Let freedom reign"-o'er all our brothers;
"Sweet land of liberty"- for others.

Alice Duer Miller, Women Are People!, 1917


Heroines.net is a journey through the Woman Suffrage Movement, a movement that secured the political freedom of more people than either the Revolutionary War or the Civil War in the United States. This is a struggle that has largely been ignored by historians.

The journey takes the movement through a country grappling with slavery, torn by civil war, and expanding a frontier. It is a journey faced with the forces of a rising Industrial Age and corrupt politics. It is a journey filled with friendships, love, betrayals, undying faith, and lifelong loyalties. It is a journey filled with its own songs and poetry. It is a journey of a movement that grows up and steps into the international arena. It is a journey to victory. It is a journey, the fruition of which is The American Dream.

The story of the Woman Suffrage Movement unfolds through articles from suffrage newspapers, letters, poetry and memoirs. Original commentary seeks to put this material into the context of its time.

The Library lists the contents of the site. The headings that are underlined are on-line. Those that are not underlined are under development, and will be uploaded at a future date, so visit us again to continue through the journey.


Heroines.net and/or Rhonda Super make claim of copyright only to original material and contributions made by Heroines.net and/or Rhonda Super. Heroines.net/Rhonda Super make no claim to copyright to original material made by others. Unless otherwise noted, excerpts and articles which are not original materials made by Heroines.net and/or Rhonda Super are in public domain and may be downloaded and reproduced.

For inquiries about use of copyrighted material, please contact Rhonda Super at super@heroines.net. Copyright Rhonda Super, 1999.

Heroines.net would like to offer a very special thank you to the staff of the Huntington Library who generously have given me access to their woman suffrage collection.

Special thank-yous go out to:

Dr. Miriam Reed, who has given unfailing encouragement, no non-sense but always excellent advice, resources, and friendship;

Phyllis Kaelin of Pacific Research for sound direction and advice in technical and marketing areas; and

Anne Barhydt-Smith for putting her graphic skills to work on refining the Heroines logo.

Heroines.net is a web site designed and administered by Rhonda Super. Ms. Super holds a BA in Government and English and a MA in Communications from Ohio University. As Message Clerk of the Ohio Senate, she was the first woman to hold a position requiring her to be on the floor of the Ohio General Assembly. Ms. Super has worked in production and businsess affairs in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. During this time Ms. Super has pursued her interest in women's history by developing a library of over 500 volumes and as an independent researcher.



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