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Historically, the Ladies' Gallery was a viewing area in the Ohio House of Representatives Chamber that was built in the 1890s so that women could observe the government process. As the women's suffrage movement gained support, Ohio became an active state in the movement.

The Ladies' Gallery exhibit at the Ohio Statehouse commemorates these efforts through portraits, artifacts and memorabilia of the first women elected to the Ohio legislature beginning in 1923.

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Ladies' Gallery Women in Government Suffrage Ohio House of Representatives

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00:00:12	This room takes its name from the center section of vistor's gallery
00:00:16	in the Ohio House of Representatives Chamber.
00:00:20	Constructed in the 1890s, the viewing gallery was originally
00:00:24	referred to as "The Ladies' Gallery."
00:00:27	It was meant to be a place where women could observe
00:00:29	the goings-on of the legislature.
00:00:32	When the Statehouse was first in use, it was very much
00:00:35	a men-only environment.
00:00:37	Women could not vote and were not involved in politics and government.
00:00:41	Women's suffrage is an important theme in this room.
00:00:44	After many decades of working for freedom and righteousness
00:00:47	for others, women began to use their collective voice
00:00:50	to fight for their own voting rights to influence and
00:00:53	achieve social justice.
00:00:55	As the 19th Century was drawing to a close,
00:00:58	the women's suffrage movement was gaining much force,
00:01:02	and the desire of women to be part of the government process,
00:01:05	if not as direct participants, than at least as informed observers,
00:01:10	was the reason to expand the capacity of the House Chambers'
00:01:13	visitor's gallery. From that modest beginning, the legislature
00:01:17	has seen the inclusion of women as voters and legislators,
00:01:21	the first women members taking their seats in 1923.
00:01:26	The Ladies' Gallery is a place of honor and learning
00:01:29	in the Ohio Statehouse. The room pays homage to the first women
00:01:33	Ohio legislators who paved the way for women in government.
00:01:37	Notice the six hanging portraits of these first brave women.
00:01:42	The room also honors all women who have served
00:01:45	in the Ohio General Assembly.
00:01:48	Ohio was a pivotal and active state in the movement with the
00:01:51	Second National Women's Rights Convention held in Salem in 1850.
00:01:57	And in 1912, more than 5,000 Ohio women marched
00:02:01	for suffrage at the Ohio Statehouse.
00:02:04	On June 16, 1919, only 12 days after the proposed
00:02:09	Constitutional Amendment was sent to states by Congress
00:02:12	for ratification, the Ohio General Assembly voted to ratify
00:02:17	the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
00:02:21	The 19th Amendment became law on August 18, 1920

Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions