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Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association The Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association (IWSA) began on October 15, 1851, in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana.[2] IWSA was created for men and women to fight for women's right to vote. The association held annual conventions for 26 years.[3] People traveled from all over the state to find resolutions for the political, social, and financial inequalities for women. The ISWA was first referred to as American Woman Suffrage Association. The ConstitutionSource:[2] Article IThis society shall be known by the name of the Indiana Woman's Article IIThe officers of this society shall consist of a president, vice president, corresponding and recording secretaries and treasurer, whose duties shall be such as devolve upon such stations, and they shall be elected annually. Article IIIThe Secretary, further, shall be requested to report annually upon the general condition of woman and the efforts made for her elevation. Article IVPersons shall be appointed at each annual meeting to report upon each of the following subjects: Woman's Labor and Remuneration, Woman's Legal Condition; Woman's Social Position, and Woman's education. Article VThis society shall meet annually at such time and place as shall hereafter be determined upon. Article VIThis society does advise the organization of District societies throughout the State. Article VIIThe constitution may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the society. The first meetingsSource:[2] October 14, 1851Morning sessionThe meeting started off by elected a president, vice president, and secretary. Hannah Hiatt was the first president, Amanda Way was the first vice president, and Henry Hiatt was the first secretary. Hannah Hiatt requested that the new vice president make the opening address of the meeting. During that speech, Amanda M. Way stated that the "object of the meeting, and declaring that unless women demand their rights politically, socially and financially, they will continue in the future as in the past, to be classed with negroes, criminals, insane person, idiots, and infants." Henry B. Wright, who was a great antislavery lecturer, was called for and made a radical, striving speech, after which the convention closed until the next day. Evening sessionHannah Hiatt called the convention to order. After preliminary business was discussed, Hiatt introduced H. C. Wright. Wright showed the injustice in property laws, inequality of wages, and the insulting cruelty of shutting the doors of the high school and colleges against women. October 15, 1851Morning sessionAmanda Way started the meeting by reading a letter from Dr. Mary F. Thomas of North Manchester and Elizabeth Matchett of Goshen. They read all of the resolutions for the amendments and after some discussion, there were all adopted. The members of the convention took the position that all class legislation is unjust and that all who are governed by laws should help make those laws. H. C. Wright gave another speech. Afternoon sessionThere were speeches given by Joel P. Garris, M. R. Hiatt, H. C. Wright, Henry Hiatt, and others. The members of the association decided to hold another convention in a year. They selected Richmond as the place. People to rememberPeople who held positionsPresidentNotable women who were President
Vice presidentNotable women who were vice president of IWHA SecretaryNotable people who were Secretary of IWHA
Influential peopleThese people signed the Constitution, or made speeches at the meetings
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