Occoquan Workhouse

In 1917 and 1918, suffragists were imprisoned at the Occoquan Workhouse for picketing the White House to gain support for a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. The women, members of the National Woman’s Party founded by Alice Paul in 1916, came from diverse social backgrounds including businesswomen, factory workers, homemakers, and students, and some belonged to the DAR. Sentenced for “obstructing the traffic” or “unlawful assembly,” they demanded treatment as political prisoners but instead faced cruel punishments and deplorable living conditions. The struggle for women’s suffrage continued as they shared their stories through publications, rallies, and legislative sessions, and in 1920 women gained the vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Laurel Hill, Virginia · United States