History Happy Hour: Fighting for Equality: Women’s Suffrage in Kansas

Next date: Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM

Early Kansas history is known for its progressive stance on many issues, and voting rights for women was no exception. In 1867, Kansas was the first state to attempt full voting rights for women. So why did it take 50 long years to make it a reality?

Despite numerous advancements and several more firsts, it was not an easy or a quick undertaking. It also didn’t include the voices of all women. White middle-class women were credited with the success of the equality movement, while their allies of color most often faced discrimination and marginalization.

This talk chronicles women’s suffrage in Kansas, highlighting events, leaders and organizations key to the passage of the 1912 voting rights amendment to the state’s constitution.

Presented by Sarah Bell, Director of the Kansas Museum of History.

Ages 18 and up.

A voter registration table, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, will be set up in the lobby of City Hall during this event. 

Learn more and register to attend

Grab a drink or bite to eat at the Lenexa Public Market and join us upstairs in the Community Forum at City Hall.

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About the series

Hear stories that will inspire and spark conversation as you learn new insights and strengthen your community. Lenexa’s History Happy Hour series will help you become an informed citizen and learn about the unique topics and current events that impact our state. This series is supported by the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau, Legler Barn Museum & Depot and Lenexa Historical Society.

When

Location

Held in the first floor Community Forum.

Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, KS, 66219, View Map