100 years ago, women nationwide gained the right to vote; In Kansas, women had that right 8 years prior

People are typically surprised to learn that women in Kansas received the right to vote in all elections — state and federal — in 1912, eight years prior to the 19th amendment, which guaranteed women nationwide the right to vote. That’s according to Diana Carlin, a former University of Kansas professor who taught courses on Kansas women’s suffrage for over 20 years. “We were way ahead of the game,” she said. In 1867, Kansas was the first state to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage. In 1887, Kansas became the first state to grant women municipal suffrage. And it was the first state to elect a female mayor: Susanna Madora Salter.
Read more: LJWorld.com.