Looking Back

By 1890, Colorado was seething with the question of granting suffrage to women. Mrs. Carrie Chapman (later Mrs. Catt) established headquarters in Denver and spoke throughout the state. Several women's organizations were formed.

On April 17, 1893, the Woman's Suffrage Amendment to the  State Constitution was approved by the Colorado Legislature. It was submitted to the voters in the November 7, 1893 election and passed by a vote of 35,698 against 24,461. Governor Davis Waite issued a proclamation December 2, 1893 declaring the enfranchisement of women; "That every female person shall be entitled to vote at all elections in the same manner in all respects as male persons are." (Colorado Secretary of State Records.)

Mrs. John L. Routt was the first woman registered in the state. In March 1894, the women irrespective of party acted as canvassers to register the female vote.

In June 1894, the annual convention of the National Republican League Clubs was held in Denver. At that time there was no organization of Republican women in the state. The Republican leaders, recognizing the need of such organization, selected Mrs. Frank Hall to take charge of the women's department of the campaign work under the general direction of the Republican State Central Committee. Her first and most important duty was that of organizing women's Republican clubs in all counties of the state. (Reference: Stone's History of Colorado.)

The data sent in by some of our present federation clubs reveals that in 1913 a woman's Republican Club was formed in Walsenburg by Mrs. Millicent Felhagen (Mrs. H.H.) of Alamosa. The first president was Mrs. George Blickhahn. 

At about the same time a club was started in Trinidad, the first president was Mrs. F.C. Miller.

In 1922 at the request of Mrs. Helen Bell, State Vice Chairman, Mrs. Harry Chandler, Pueblo County Vice Chairman, organized a club in Pueblo. First president, Mrs. Martha Dibble - 12 members. On September 19, 1938 the Pueblo club joined the present Federation - 350 members. First president, Mrs. Dorothy L. Rugg.

On August 5, 1924, a group of 150 delegates from 45 chapters of "The Republican Federation of Colorado Women" met at the Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, to elect officers and members of a Board of Directors (4 from each congressional district to be the governing body) and complete final steps in teh organization of a state federation. Approximately 4,500 members. Mrs. John Leeming Jr. (daughter of former Governor Shoup) was elected president. Mrs. E. H. Velhagen of Alamosa was elected first vice president, Mrs. Nae Warren of Ft. Collins, secretary, Mrs. R.S. Dibble of Denver, treasurer. Mrs. Helen Bell, representative of the Republican State Central Committee, presided. (References: Denver Post Library file)

A chapter was started in Trinidad, Mrs. F.C. Miller first president. The South Denver chapter of this federation was organized in May, 1924, Mrs. O.D. Brown, first president. On February 10, 1928, it adopted the name of Helen Bell Chapter. (Mrs. Brown was still president when the Helen Bell club applied for membership in the present federation May 13, 1938 and signed the application.) In July 1926, the Jefferson County Women's Republican Club was organized in the District Court room of the old Golden Court  House by Mrs. Velhagen and John M. Coen, State Chairman at that time. Mrs. Bob Van Duesen, first president.

On August 5, 1926, Mrs. Velhagen was elected president of the Republican Federation of Colorado Women. On Septemer 9, 1926, Mrs. Velhagen was elected president of the Republican Federation of Colorado Women. On September 9, 1926, she was elected State Vice Chairman.

When our present federation was formed in 1938, Mrs. F. C. Miller was again the first president of the Trinidad club.(Mrs. Miller later moved to Denver with her daughter, Mrs. Harry Fontius Jr.)

In the summer of 1936, Mrs. James Rae Arneill, Jr., became National Vice Chairman of  "The Independent Coalition of American Women" with headquarters in New York City. The aim of this organization was defeat of President Roosevelt's NEW DEAL by the election of Alfred M. Landon, Republican candidate for U.S. president. The goal was to pledge at least one million women to bring to the polls in November at least 5 other women each of whom would vote for ANTI-NEW DEAL CANDIDATES, regardless of Party.

On July 31, 1936 Mrs. Arneill held a luncheon meeting of Colorado women from all parts of the state at the Denver Country Club - main speaker was John M. Coen, former Republican State Chairman. After this meeting a state-wide organization drive was conducted and 23 clubs formed in various parts of the state.