Historic 1918 Voting Oath Ceremony in America

This photograph captures a pivotal moment in American history, showing a vote being sworn in on March 5, 1918, featuring Helen Moser and G. S. Mitchell. Mosers involvement is particularly significant; she was one of the early women engaged in the political processes of the United States, reflecting the gradual shift towards greater female participation in governance. In 1920, just two years after this event, women across the nation gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, marking a major milestone in the women’s suffrage movement.

Taken by a photographer from the Bain News Service, this image is part of the George Grantham Bain Collection, which documents key news events from the early 20th century. The negatives were typically created on glass, a common material for photography at the time, that allowed for detailed, reproducible images. This particular scene not only portrays individuals but also symbolizes the larger societal changes occurring during a time when the political landscape was evolving rapidly, particularly in terms of gender equality and voter rights.