The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus (WyoWLC) is encouraging Wyoming citizens to rally behind Esther Hobart Morris, the first woman to serve as justice of the peace and a pioneer for women’s suffrage, for placement on the new $10 bill.
“Wyoming has a long and storied history of female firsts,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Mary Throne. “From the first woman to cast a vote to the first woman elected Governor, Wyoming has been home to some of the biggest milestones in women’s history. Esther Hobart Morris’s appointment as justice of the peace was among the very first of these landmark achievements and helped to trigger additional momentum in the women’s suffrage movement.”
“Esther Hobart Morris’s importance as a symbol for women’s suffrage and women serving in public office makes her worthy of this honor,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Ruth Ann Petroff. “As justice of the peace, she not only proved that women could serve in such capacities, but that they could competently and successfully manage public office.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew recently announced that a woman will be represented on the new $10 bill and is asking for public input into what female should be on the currency. The WyoWLC is asking Wyoming citizens to show their support for Esther Hobart Morris by signing an online petition at www.estherhobartmorrris.com, and posting on social media with the hashtag #TheNew10.
In 1870, Esther Hobart Morris was appointed the nation’s first female justice of the peace in South Pass City, Wyoming. During her tenure, she competently ruled on 26 cases, none of which were ever reversed on appeal. In a time when women across the nation were still denied many rights, Morris broke down barriers proving that a woman could capably hold office.
The U.S. Department of Treasury is asking for public input into which woman should be on the $10 bill. They are asking citizens to use the hashtag #TheNew10 on social media to share their ideas, symbols, designs or any other feedback that can inform the Secretary as he considers options for the $10 redesign. For more information the #TheNew10 campaign, visit https://thenew10.treasury.gov.
To get involved and show their support for Wyoming suffrage icon Esther Hobart Morris, Wyoming citizens can:
• Visit www.estherhobartmorris.com to sign the WyoWLC’s petition asking Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to place Esther Hobart Morris on the new $10 note
• Post and share posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #TheNew10
• ‘Like’ the WYOWLC’s Facebook page for the latest news on #TheNew10 & information regarding WY’s many female firsts (www.facebook.com/WyoWLC)
