California Equal Suffrage Association

In 1870 the California State Woman Suffrage Society or California Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Laura de Force Gordon.[1] The California Woman Suffrage Association changed its name from California Woman Suffrage Association to California Equal Suffrage Association in 1896 to appeal to male sympathisers. [2]

The California Equal Suffrage Association (CESA) was headquartered in northern California and was founded by suffragist Elizabeth Lowe Watson.[3] It was incorporated in 1904.[4] The original name of the organization was The California Woman's Suffrage Association.[5][6] Part of the reason for rebranding the organization was to reach out to men for support of the suffrage cause.[7] The CESA would actively seek out the support of men.[8] Activists affiliated with this organization lobbied for women's suffrage from automobiles and produced goods for purchase such as playing cards and postcards.[9]

Suffragist Gail Laughlin traveled the state in November of 1904 campaigning on behalf of suffrage and spreading the word about this organization.[10] Historian Gayle Gullett noted that the Los Angeles Times referred to the attendees as "several hundred assertive-appearing women."[11] In 1905 the organization distributed pamphlets promoting the suffrage cause in the California Senate chamber.[12] In September of that year they held their state convention.[13] Attendees included Caroline Severance, Mary Sperry, Anna Bidwell and Ellen Clark Sargent.[13]

Lillian Harris Coffin

Caroline Severance was designated an honorary president of this organization in 1905.[14] Suffragist Lillian Harris Coffin created a central committee for the CESA in 1906.[15] Berkeley attorney Mary McHenry Keith also served as president of the CESA.[16]

• Lillian Harris Coffin
• Mary Gamage[16]
• Mary McHenry Keith
• Minora Kibbe[17]
• Gail Laughlin[17]
• Alice Park[17]
• Ellen Clark Sargent
• Caroline Severance[13]
• Mary Sperry[17]
• Elizabeth Lowe Watson