Exhibits Celebrating Women's Suffrage Open at Lake County Public Library’s Merrillville Branch

Two exhibits celebrating the history of women's suffrage in Indiana are opening at the Lake County Public Library's Merrillville Branch. Both exhibits open to the public on Friday, July 31, and will remain on display through Wednesday, September 2, 2026. They are located on the library's main floor, where visitors can explore both exhibits together. The League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area exhibit is displayed in one of the library's large wall exhibit cases, while the companion traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society is located in the adjacent exhibit space.

A Right Worth Fighting For: The History of the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area was curated by the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area (LWVCA). Comprised of more than 50 objects including historical documents, photographs, clothing, and other artifacts, the exhibit traces the founding of the various Calumet area leagues that ultimately merged to become the LWVCA. It celebrates the work that has been done over their 100 plus year history to encourage women and all citizens to be informed and to exercise their right to vote. It was a hard-fought battle to win the vote in 1920, but the work did not stop there. For more than a century, the League of Women Voters has continued the fight to educate and empower voters and encourage civic engagement.

Also on display is a traveling exhibit on loan from the Indiana Historical Society. Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana focuses on the history of women’s suffrage across the state of Indiana. From the first Indiana Woman’s Rights Convention held in Dublin, Indiana, in 1851 to the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, Hoosier women fought hard for more than 70 years to gain the right to vote. Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana explores how women all across Indiana passionately labored for suffrage through countless meetings, campaigns and other grassroots efforts. Despite many defeats and setbacks, they persisted towards the goal of full citizenship and the power to make change through voting.

Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana is a project of the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, catalyzed by Indiana Humanities, the Indianapolis Propylaeum, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Both exhibits are free and open to the public during regular library hours. The Lake County Public Library Merrillville Branch is located at 1919 W. 81st Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410.

The League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area (LWVCA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in democracy. LWVCA empowers voters and defends democracy through advocacy and education. The League encourages informed and active participation in government while influencing public policy through education and civic engagement. For more information or to get involved, visit www.lwvcalumet.org.

The Lake County Public Library serves residents throughout Lake County by providing access to books, technology, educational resources, cultural programming, and lifelong learning opportunities. With multiple branches serving communities across the county, the library is committed to enriching lives through knowledge, discovery, and community engagement. For more information, visit www.lcplin.org.