Women's Suffrage

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Grace Coolidge cast her first vote in a Federal election on November 2, 1920 with her husband on the ballot for the Vice-President of the United States. In the photo above is Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge and Grace voting in Northampton in 1920.

In 1930, Calvin Coolidge reflected on women's first decade of voting: "They are devoted, steadfast, sensible. They will not follow radical proposals, but will be influenced by moral values. Nothing can be safer for the commonwealth than the informed judgment of the mothers of the land."

Calvin Coolidge Says October 13, 1930

Happy Father's Day!

"I think only two or three fathers have seen their sons chosen to be President of the United States. I am sure I came to it largely by your bringing up and your example."

Letter to his father, John C. Coolidge, August 2, 1925

Happy Flag Day!

"The stars and the red, white and blue colors have a significance of their own, but when combined and arranged into the flag of our nation they take on a new significance which no other form or color can convey... It represents our peace and security, our civil and political liberty, our freedom of religious worship, our family, our friends, our home. We see in it the great multitude of blessings, of rights and privileges, that make up our country.

But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done. A yearly contemplation of the meaning of our flag strengthens and purifies the national conscience."

From "Calvin Coolidge Says" a syndicated newspaper column June 12, 1931

Northampton Republican Committee

The Coolidge Museum will host the next meeting of the Northampton Republican Committee on March 10, 2010 at 7pm. The Committee will be introducing their constituents to Republican Tom Wesley, who is running for Congress.


For more information contact Coolidge@forbeslibrary.org.

VOTE!!

January 19 is a special election in Massachusetts for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. The nation is watching Massachusetts as the race heats up and is expected to be very close. Citizens have been flooded with robo calls, emails and television commercials, all strage concepts to Calvin Coolidge. As you debate your vote and head to the polls, remember the words of Coolidge "We have a tendency to be too indifferent before primaries and elections and too critical after. Public officers can and do exercise large influence over our daily life but the main course of events is in our own hands." From a November 4, 1930 newspaper column

Memorial tribute to Coolidge by Henry P. Field

Calvin Coolidge died at his home, "The Beeches" in Northampton on January 5, 1933. Upon Coolidge's death, The Daily Hampshire Gazette published this tribute to Coolidge from Henry P. Field on January 7, 1933. Calvin Coolidge studied law in the Office of Hammond & Field 1895-1897. Henry P. Field, lawyer, Mayor of Northampton, Judge, Forbes Library Trustee, was a great influence in Calvin's legal and political career.

“This American nation and peoples beyond our borders and across the seas will mourn his departure, but here at home, his home and ours, his death comes as a grievous personal loss. We all knew his fine character, his kindness and consideration for others, his exceptional abilities, his genius for government, his strong common sense, his keen sense of humor. We all knew that he had the courage and perseverance of his Puritan ancestors and their firm and abiding faith. And we also knew how unpretentious he was, how eager to avoid all display. And yet this quiet, unostentatious friend and fellow citizen of ours retired from the Presidency the most highly esteemed and most popular man in all these United States, and in doing so he was passed from this world into a better one. He filled all his man public offices to the entire satisfaction of the people. They trusted him. They felt that in his hands their government was safe. His life has been of infinite value to this country and the nation knows the seriousness of its loss. But to us at home the loss is more intimate. In all the long history of this good city he was its most distinguished citizen, and here in his home town he made life better and finer for every one who came within his influence.”

Calvin Coolidge July 4, 1872-January 5, 1933

John Calvin Coolidge
July 4, 1872-January 5, 1933

Calvin Coolidge died in his home, “The Beeches,” in Northampton on January 5, 1933 at the age of 60 of heart disease. Coolidge was at his office at 25 Main Street in the morning and returned home for lunch. He was found on the floor of his dressing room at 12:25 pm by his wife Grace after she had returned home from shopping in downtown Northampton.

His funeral was held in Northampton at the Edwards Church on January 7 officiated by Rev. Albert Penner. The Daily Hampshire Gazette on January 7, 1933 reported that a special train from Washington, D.C. arrived to Northampton at 10 a.m. with 45 mourners including President and Mrs. Hoover, Vice-President Curtis and Chief Justice Hughes and members of Congress, Cabinet and old political and personal friends. The Washington delegation returned by train at Noon. Immediately following the Northampton funeral, 9 cars led by a police motorcycle traveled to Plymouth, Vermont where the President was buried.