Lola Maverick Lloyd, the National Women’s Party and the Equal Rights Amendment

The recent NYPL exhibition, Equal Rights Amendment: A Century of Speaking Out, prominently featured collections from the Manuscripts and Archives division of the Library. The Lola Maverick Lloyd papers offered an intimate glimpse into the work of the National Woman’s Party during the fight for the 19th amendment and the immediate push for the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. Lola Maverick Lloyd was a social activist who was involved in the fight for women’s equality in the United States as well as the international peace and world government movements during the first half of the 20th century. 

With the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman immediately turned to drafting the Equal Rights Amendment. Both members of the National Woman's Party, they would often send membership reports to gauge which states needed more representation. 

The National Woman’s Party not only worked on domestic issues but also issues that affected them beyond the United States. The international committee of the National Woman’s Party wrote to the Delegate of Iran who was Chairman of the Council of the League of Nations. They were hoping to have someone appointed to the Committee of Experts on the Status of Women. 

While the National Woman’s Party worked on International affairs, their focus was always on the issues for women in America. After the passage of the 19th amendment, their attention turned to the Equal Rights Amendment. In the letter below from Alice Paul to Lola Maverick Lloyd, we learn that the fight for women's equality is ongoing and Alice is asking Lola to once again be an active member in the National Woman's Party, “I proposed your name for the Council as I was anxious to have members who would believe in going forward with the equality movement at this time. You will remember that the Woman’s Party was the only women’s organization that went forward with the suffrage campaign during the last world war. It will be even harder this time, and I shall greatly need the support of people like yourself.”

The National Woman's Party would ultimately fail at achieving their goal of having Congress pass the Equal Rights Amendment. The 1960s and 70s would see a rise in protests for civil rights, gay rights, and equality for women across the United States. The desire to pass the amendment would begin again. 

The Manuscripts and Archives Division welcomes all researchers to explore our collections. If you need help making an appointment, would like to speak to a librarian about your research, or have any questions about our collections, please email the Division at manuscripts@nypl.org.