Submitted by Kathleen Rogers-vanLeeuwen
The Madison Historical Society’s Annual Dinner Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Madison Hotel, located at 1 Convent Road in Convent Station, Madison, New Jersey. The evening’s program will feature Carol Simon Levin who defines her role as a Living History Presenter. For this occasion, Ms. Levin will portray Jeannette Rankin, America’s first female member of Congress.
The evening will also feature the election of Society officers for the 2017 to 2018 program year as well as the presentation of the annual Madison Historical Society Award to an outstanding Madison High School history student.
A cash bar will be available from 6 p.m. The dinner and meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $60 per person, and reservations can be made, by calling the Society at 973-377-0722 ext. 8. Callers are asked to leave a message, and a Society member will promptly return their call.
The program is titled “Pickets & Persistence, War Service & Women’s Suffrage, American Women’s Fight to Win the Vote.” Levin will tell the intertwined stories of women’s suffrage activism, war service, and the political calculus that finally brought the support of President Wilson, the U.S. Congress, and state legislatures to achieve passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.
Based in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Ms. Levin studied economics, history, women’s studies, and history of technology at Cornell University and holds a NMLS Librarianship from University of Arizona. She is a member of the New Jersey Storytelling Guild njstorynet.org/carol-simon-levin, the New Jersey Library Association, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Ms. Levin is also the author of the educational coloring book, “Remembering the Ladies: From Patriot in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates.” The book invites readers to literally color in the remarkable contributions courageous and tenacious women; founding mothers whose efforts aided the American Revolution, generations of abolitionists, suffragists, feminists, labor and civil rights leaders who fought for the vote and other rights for women, and women who sought and sometimes achieved elective and appointed office. In addition to a coloring page, each entry includes a short biography, a fascinating fact and a quote by the woman. It also includes suggestions for further reading for kids, teens, and adults and a note where a museum dedicated to her can be found (if one exists).
The Madison Historical Society’s role is to assemble, record, and preserve all matters of historical interest concerning Madison and its residents. Formed in 1922 to preserve the old Bottle Hill Tavern, the Society has organized a significant collection of historic documents, maps, and photographs over the intervening years. These are housed at the Local History Center at the Madison Public Library. For more information about the Society or to inquire about membership, call 973-377-0722, ext. 8 or visit the Society’s website at madisonhistoricalsociety.org.
(above) Carol Simon Levin portraying Jeannette Rankin.
