Edith Mayo is one of the “Valiant Women of the Vote”

Edith P. Mayo, curator Emerita at the National Museum of American History for more than 40 years, has been honored by the  National Women’s History Alliance for her career documenting the history of the woman suffrage movement.

The Alliance’s 2020 theme, Valiant Women of the Vote, celebrates the women who have fought for woman’s right to vote in the United States. In recognition of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the Alliance is honoring women from the original suffrage movement as well as 20th- and 21st-century women who have continued the struggle (fighting against poll taxes, literacy tests, voter roll purges, and other more contemporary forms of voter suppression) to ensure voting rights for all.

Edith Mayo is a historian of the women’s suffrage movement as well as an activist and is well known and widely respected for her work in documenting African American suffragist history, which has contributed to increased public recognition of the numerous political contributions of African American suffragists.

Edith Mayo, curator Emeirta at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

In March 2015, Mayo was honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for her service as curator of Political History at the American History Museum, during the 2015 Proclamation Ceremony for Women’s History Month. She is also the author of many academic articles and books including First Ladies: Political Role And Public Image (1995). Mayo currently serves on the Honorary Board of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial that documents the history of African American women leaders in the suffrage movement.

The National Women’s History Alliance will recognize and celebrate the 2020 Honorees on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Hamilton Restaurant in Washington, D.C.

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