Sojourner Truth and the 250th Anniversary

                    

 The Sojourner Truth

 Ain't I a Woman? 

Project

My friends know about the green bench.

 It is the place where folks who are sorting life, 

moving, or downsizing put all their things

 they just can't part with yet.

 So I have to make the decision for them later.

But, one of the amazing things has been the postage stamps.

Thousands and thousands of postage stamps.

One January a couple of years ago,

 I sorted the boxes and ziplock bags of stamps.

That's when I found the amazing 

collection of "women" stamps.

Not quite sure what I wanted to do with them,

 but "something."

So, as the 250th Anniversary celebration was coming up

 for the United States of America, I saw a plan developing.

I had visited my artist friend, Sally Beck, in her home 

and saw a beautiful art project done with stamps.

Hmmmm.

I had read a biography of Sojourner Truth last year

 and another book about her is on the list for our book group

 for Visual Faith® Ministry this year.

I will tell the story of a few stamps. 

This is a 3 cent commemorative stamp that was issued in 1948 to celebrate the 100th of the women's rights movement in the United States.  Issue date is July 19, 1948. Inscription-  " 100 Years of Progress of Women- 18148-1948"  The bottom says: "Seneca Falls, NY. commemorating the location of  the first women's rights convention. The  women pictured are: Lucreatia Mott (left) abolitionist and women's rights advocate. Carrie Chapman Catt (center) leader of the campaign that helped secure women's suffrage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (riught) principal orgaznier of the 1848 Sendeca Falls Conventions and author of the Declaration of Sentiments. ( If all of this is new information for you that would be the "normal" place for understanding women's suffrage in the U.S.)

This 1 1/2 cent stamp was first issued in 1938 to amend

 odd postage amounts. Martha Washington was chosen 

because she was well recognized.

This is a 25 cent Ida B. Wells commemorative stamp that was issued on February 1, 1990 as part of the Postal Services long running Black Heritage stamps series. Ida B. Wells waste of the most courageous journalists and civi rights advocates in American history. She is best remembered for  investigating and reporting on the widespread use of

 lynching and mob violence. Her office was destroyed after her reporting. She also helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

This is the 1970, 6 cent Woman Suffrage 50th Anniversary Stamp.      It was issued  on August 26, 1970 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The Susan B. Anthony stamp was issued in 1954 and is one of the best known stamps honoring  the pioneer of the American women's suffrage movement. The stamp commenorates her lifelong fight for women's rights, espeicially the right to vote. She spent decades campainging for equal legal and political rights for women. When it was issued, the USPS was expanding the recognition of influential Americans. The stamp was released on August 26, which marks the anniversary of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting women the constitutional

 right to vote.

This is the 1955  "The American Woman" 4 cent which was one of the most significant stamps honoring the everyday contributions of women rather than a single historical figure. It was issued on August 26, 1955 on the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920 which guaranteed the right to vote for women. The stamp celebrates the many roles American women played especially after World War 2.  The central image is a mother and child symbolizing family life. The three panels represent women in civic affairs,          education and arts and industry as the major areas of contribution      for women.

Finally, the inspiration for this project- Sojourner Truth.

This is the 22cent stamp issued on February 4, 1986 as part of the Black Heritage Series.

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree. After escaping to freedom in 1826, she became an influential abolitionist and women's rights advocate. She was known for combining religious conviction with calls for justice. Her famous speech in1851, commonly known as "Ain't I a Woman?" was delivered at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. It has become an enduring symbol of the center of facial and gender equality.

There are many other women here that have made great contributions in the history our country. Perhaps I will explore more of them.

But, for now, Happy Birthday America!

Blessings for the next century and may God Bless the USA!