TEXAS SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

those regarding women’s suffrage, prison reform, and prevention of lynching. 19 In her later years, Ames compiledimpressions of suffrage supporters and the events she experienced. 20The Jessie Daniel Ames papers add more contextual knowledge about the legacy of the women’s suffragemovement in Texas. Most of her papers appear to have been collected or compiled by her in 1965, possibly fordonation to an archival repository. This small yet rich collection provides information about how suffrage groupstransitioned from seeking only the enfranchisement of women to campaigning for equal rights in many arenas.Materials within the Ames papers illustrate the immediate aftermath of the women’s suffrage movement.In an undated speech-script, Jessie stated that female enfranchisement aided in the destruction of machine politics,encouraged better treatment of wards of the state, supported education reform, and maintained prohibition. 21Correspondence and recollections suggested that this optimistic outlook faded during the 1924 gubernatorialelection. Ames spoke on behalf of Miriam Ferguson, wife of impeached governor James Ferguson, in spite ofthe Fergusons’ earlier opposition to the women’s suffrage movement. 22 As Ames stated in a 1924 letter to herfriend P.O. Ray, Ma Ferguson 23 would resist her husband’s influence if she wanted to be a good governor. Amesconsidered Ferguson a better option than her opponent Felix D. Robertson, a known Klansman of questionablemoral values. 24 Less-than-perfect candidates continued to run for office despite the enfranchisement of women.As an active suffragette, Ames worked with many of the movement’s key figures and also collected suchephemera as a campaign flyer for Minnie Fisher Cunningham. 25 Though unsuccessful, Cunningham became thefirst woman to run to represent Texas at the national level. In the decades that followed the enfranchisement ofwomen, Ames continued to push for equal rights at the local level. According to Ames’s notes from Texas Leagueof Women Voters meetings, more work was needed so that women could serve on juries and close the disparitybetween the property rights of unmarried and married women. 26The Ames papers demonstrate that the enfranchisement of women was a promising move forward, butthat more needed to be done if females wanted full equality. Ames also realized that the movement needed to bememorialized through documentary materials produced by suffragettes as well as recollections of the movement.This approach ensured that future generations would understand what struggles existed and how women leadersfought for equal rights.19Nancy Baker Jones, “Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching,” Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/via01, accessed June 30, 2015.20“Notes on Texas Governor Dan Moody, covering the time period from 1918 to 1928,” undated, Ames (Jessie Daniel) papers. Archivesand Info. Servs. Div., TSLAC.21Untitled speech, about 1920, Ames (Jessie Daniel) papers, TSLAC.22Letter to P.O. Ray from Jessie Daniel Ames, August 30, 1924, Ames (Jessie Daniel) papers. Archives and Info. Servs. Div., TSLAC.23John D. Huddleston, “Ferguson, Miriam Amanda Wallace [Ma],” Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffe06, accessed June 30, 2015.24Ames mentions that Robertson protected saloon men despite his stance on prohibition. Ames lamented that Robertson’s actionsshowed his character to be lacking good morals.25“Texas Women Cannot Forget Minnie Fisher Cunningham” flyer, about 1928, Ames (Jessie Daniel) papers. Archives and InformationServices Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.26“Texas League of Women Voters” notes, October 1919-December 1923, Ames (Jessie Daniel) papers, Archives and InformationServices Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. After ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, some womensuffrage groups dissolved and regrouped to reflect a new mission. The Texas League of Women Voters was formed from the recentlydissolved Texas Equal Suffrage Association.68