LETTER: 2 ALS to Mrs. Martin.
Catt, Carrie Chapman. Two autograph letters signed, to “Mrs Martin,” New York, 1918.
Two holograph letters signed "Carrie C. Catt" and "Carrie Chapman Catt" respectively. Single sheets: The first on Carrie Chapman Catt's letterhead, 8-3/8 x 10-11/16", with her name and address in blue at the upper margin and bordered by thick/thin rules; written both sides; folded once in each direction to fit an envelope. The second on two sheets of National American Woman Suffrage Association letterhead, 8-1/2 x 11", with Carrie Chapman Catt as president and printing the officers, directors, etc. of NAWSA; written the first side of each sheet; folded twice to fit an envelope. Both letters very good.
Two letters which admirably reflect the dynamism Carrie Chapman Catt brought to bear as the women;s suffrage movement saw its goal tantalizingly near, but not yet accomplished. The letters treat on her work as a member of the Woman's Committee of Council of National Defense. The Woman's Committee was created to mobilize and coordinate women's war work at the home front. Anna Howard Shaw was appointed chair of the Woman's Committee and Carrie Chapman Catt, despite her pacifism, chaired the Liberty Loan committee. Catt recognized that, whatever reservations suffragists had about American entry into World War I, women could make a substantial contribution to the war effort—a contribution that could only underscore their right to suffrage.
The first letter explains her sudden absence despite a promise that she would make herself available until a key leaflet was completed: "The explanation is that miserable bunch of recalcitrants in the hill said they were going to recess right off...but that group of grown up boys are still sitting and growling at each other because they are." Throughout 1918 the Senate dithered and talked and talked and dithered about suffrage, although two years earlier it had passed a women’s suffrage amendment. For suffragists, Senate inaction, as is clear from Catt's scornful language, was utterly exasperating. She writes also that she has closed two real estate deals on behalf of the NAWSA "and the cash is in the suffrage pocketbook". She intends to take a few days vacation, after speaking at Chataqua, but is taking "all of my war material": "I feel like a yellow dog to run off, but if I don't somebody will have to stop for a funeral!"
The second letter, undated but ca. late September or early October 1918, tells Mrs. Martin: "I hear that the Women's Committee will send out its statement of the new move today or tomorrow". She then lists three items she wishes sent to all of the State Presidents of the Women's Committee, and three other items to be sent to the Presidents of Divisions. "Will you get these done when you can?" Catt says she will be in New York Saturday evening, "and if you can send them here. I will sign and mail them at once. When that is done my connection with the department is at an end." The letter amply documents Catt's administrative abilities and the clarity and dispatch with which she handled business. She does, however, soften the letter's direct tone by concluding, "I shall be here until Oct 3 or 4 and if there is any rooting for the department to be done, I will root. Until Saturday Adieu". Two exceptional letters reflecting yet another facet of Mrs. Catt's undertakings in addition to, but far from exclusive of, the campaign for women’s suffrage.
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