A multifaceted community partnership of the Rutherford Arts Alliance will honor women from Rutherford County history and celebrate women of today through a series of interactive projects beginning this summer and extending into 2021.
“Leading Ladies of Rutherford County History: Women Who Inspire Us” is a months-long endeavor created to give voice to women who have shaped Rutherford County’s history and culture through one-act vignettes, a full-length play, podcasts, and walking and driving tours.
Spearheaded by the RAA in partnership with Cultural Arts Murfreesboro, “Leading Ladies” is part of the national centennial celebration of American women’s right to vote. Tennessee became the 36th state to approve the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which provided the required three-fourths of states needed for ratification.
Committee members for the project have selected a diverse, representational group of more than two dozen women to give voice to the stories of Rutherford County’s history. A few examples include:
Maud Ferguson, a Red Cross public nurse who played a key role in the establishment of the Rutherford County Health Department;
Mary C. Scales, the first African American faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University;
Annie Brawley Jackson, secretary of a Murfreesboro women’s suffrage society;
MTSU professor June Anderson, a champion of women’s rights.
“Selfie with a suffragist” is appearing at locations this summer.
“The project aims to encourage a sense of place within the community by lifting up the achievements of local women from the past, many of whom did not always receive full credit for their accomplishments,” said Antoinette van Zelm, assistant director of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation and a member of the project planning committee.
The culmination of the project will be the premiere of the play “Party of Twelve” by Mary Donnet Johnson, which has been rescheduled for spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take place in Washington Theater at Patterson Park.
“We originally planned the premiere of a community-developed play for August, 2020, celebrating the 19th Amendment. We never imagined another 19 (Covid-19) would change our kick-off to a grand finale,” said Andrea Loughry, RAA at-large board member.
“Choosing only twelve inspiring women from Rutherford County history from the many was a daunting task. But the excellent committee of women who put their minds to this came up with a dazzling dozen whose stories we hope will have the audience up on their feet and cheering for past triumphs while looking to future endeavors with hope and renewed energy,” said playwright Johnson. “One unexpected benefit of working on this project was not only discovering and exploring truly exemplary lives of women who came before us, but also finding much joy in uncovering the talent, commitment and brilliance of the women sitting around the table.”
Collaborators for “Leading Ladies of Rutherford County History” include the African American Heritage Society of Rutherford County; the Albert Gore Center at MTSU; Carpe Artista; the Center for the Arts; Main Street Murfreesboro; MTSU Center for Historic Preservation; MTSU College of Liberal Arts; MTSU Marketing and Communications; Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation; Rutherford County Archives; and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information, visit the leadingladiesrutherford.com.
