Women's Equality Day, August 26, 2024! | Massachusetts Women's History Center

The Importance of Voting and Women Who Advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Massachusetts Women's History Center held its 2024 Women’s Equality Day commemoration in the Boston Public Garden near the Swan Boats on August 26, 2024! This annual event recognizes the adoption of the 19th Amendment into the US Constitution, Aug. 26, 1920, and also acknowledges that other laws needed to be changed so that Black, Native American and Asian American women – and men – could vote. See video and photos, including past years, below!

Attendees of 2024 Women's Equality Day event on the Boston Common seated and standing

Thanks to everyone who joined in person or on Facebook Live to commemorate Women’s Equality Day 2024! The Massachusetts Women's History Center (MWHC) was pleased to be joined by the following co-hosts: Greater Boston Section - National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (GBS NCNW), League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWV MA), and the City of Boston, Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement (MOWA)! Our theme this year was The Importance of Voting and Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Speakers included:

Fredie Kay, Founder & President, MWHC
Dana Alas, Executive Director, City of Boston, Mayor’s Office of Women's Advancement
Hali E. Smith, Program Manager, City of Boston, Mayor’s Office of Women's Advancement
Dr. Adine Latimore, President-elect, GBS NCNW
Susan d. Garvey, Director of Development, LWV MA
Fiona Schultz, Administrative and Program Associate, LWV MA
Sharon Durkan, Boston City Councilor
Ed Flynn, Boston City Councilor

Video: Women's Equality Day 2024

8 speakers from Women's Equality Day event standing on the Boston Common next to an MWHC banner

Did you know there is a feminist story about the Swan Boats?! A year after Robert Paget launched his wonderful Swan Boat in the Public Garden in 1878, he tragically died at the age of 42, leaving his wife, Julia, a widow with four children and no income. She decided to take over running the Swan Boats, but the Boston business community - run, of course, by white men - was not keen on women running companies and therefore required her to obtain signatures of support from local business owners for years, which she did - persevering for 30+ years! Fourth generation Pagets run the Swan Boats today!

Women's Equality Day 2024

Photo Credit: Axie Breen Photography

Women's Equality Day 2023

Thanks to everyone who joined Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center), the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement, and Our Bodies Ourselves Today, along with special guests from the MA Department of Public Health, on August 24, 2023 at the Boston Public Garden to Commemorate Women’s Equality Day 2023 Focus On: Women’s Health & Maternal Health Crisis of Women of Color. Click here to see more!

Six women wearing purple sashes smile outdoors.

Two women wearing purple sash stand outside speaking at lectern.

Woman wearing purple sash stands outside speaking at lectern.

Fredie Kay wears purple sash and speaks at lectern.

Women's Equality Day: August 24, 2022

Thanks to everyone who joined Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) and the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement on August 24, 2022 at the Boston Public Garden to Commemorate Women’s Equality Day 2022 Focus On: Reproductive Rights & Voting. Click here to see more!

Women's Equality Day: August 26, 2021

Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) was pleased to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the 19th Amendment at a special event in the Boston Public Garden near the Swan Boats. Suffrage Display Panels for Ida B. Wells, Carrie Chapman Catt and Maud Wood Park were unveiled. Click here to see more!

Large group of people stand outside wearing purple sashes.

Women's Equality Day: August 23, 2019

For this year’s Women’s Equality Day, Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) honored Sheroes: African American Suffragists of Massachusetts: Maria Louise Baldwin, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Sojourner Truth. Click here to see more!

Collage of images of people at outdoors event.

Women's Equality Day: August 23, 2018

Women's Equality Day was hosted on August 23, 2018 at the Swan Boats at the Boston Public Garden by Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) and the Boston Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement. Click here to see more!

10 people stand outside next to Suffrage100MA sign.

Women's Equality Day: August 26, 2017

Women’s Equality Day 2017 was hosted by Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center), the Boston Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement and Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin. Click here to see more!

Woman wearing purple sash stands at podium.

Two women stand next to tall white sign.

Women's Equality Day: August 26, 2016

Suffrage100MA (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) and the Boston Mayor’s Office for the Advancement of Women celebrated the 96th anniversary of the 19th Amendment at the Swan Boats. Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and Massachusetts State Representative Denise Provost were our featured speakers. Click here to see more!

Group of women stand together at a park, smiling.

Woman stands outside holding certificate.

Women's Equality Day: 2012-2014

Women's Equality Day commemorations at the Boston Public Garden's Swan Boats, 2012-2014. Click here to see more!

Women's Equality Day 2011

The City of Boston, Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, and the WSCC (now the Massachusetts Women's History Center) joined together to: Designate the Swan Boats as a Boston Landmark; Showcase the new Boston Women’s Heritage Trail map and stroll a portion of the trail; and Celebrate Women’s Equality Day. Click here to see more!