History of Seneca Falls Convention in Timeline

The Seneca Falls Convention, held July 19-20, 1848, in Seneca Falls, New York, was the first women's rights convention. Organized to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women, it drew significant attention and led to subsequent conventions, including the Rochester Women's Rights Convention. In 1850, the first of a series of annual National Women's Rights Conventions convened in Worcester, Massachusetts, marking an ongoing effort to advocate for women's rights.

March 14, 1906: Susan B. Anthony's Funeral

On March 14, 1906, the tea table upon which the first draft of the Declaration of Sentiments was composed was placed at the head of Susan B. Anthony's casket during her funeral, as a place of honor.

1920: Nineteenth Amendment Passage

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment passed, granting women the right to vote. Charlotte Woodward, the only living signer of the Seneca Falls Convention's Declaration of Sentiments, was still alive but unable to vote herself.

1920: Suffrage Meetings

Until 1920, the tea table, iconic relic, upon which the first draft of the Declaration of Sentiments was composed was displayed prominently on the stage at each of the most important suffrage meetings.

1948: Seneca Falls Convention Stamp

In 1948, a stamp was issued in remembrance of the Seneca Falls Convention. The stamp featured Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Lucretia Mott as part of a Centennial Celebration in Seneca Falls.

1980: Women's Rights National Historical Park Established

In 1980, the Women's Rights National Historical Park was established. It covers 6.83 acres in Seneca Falls and Waterloo, New York, including the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's home, and the M'Clintock House, where the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted. The Wesleyan Methodist Church and the M'Clintock House were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

1998: Hillary Clinton's Speech

In 1998, First Lady Hillary Clinton gave a speech on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention.

2015: #FindtheSentiments Launched

In 2015, the White House under Barack Obama launched #FindtheSentiments, a social media campaign to locate an original copy of the Declaration of Sentiments. The search, however, proved unsuccessful.