Documentary movie about Carrie Chapman Catt makes its world premiere at Charles Theatre

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The seats were filled at the Charles Theatre Sunday afternoon for a special advance screening of the Iowa PBS film, “Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women.”

The movie is one-hour documentary that tells the story of Iowan Carrie Chapman Catt and the women’s suffrage movement.

“It’s been a joy to work on this project and learn so much about Carrie Chapman Catt, and what an amazing town this is, and all the work you’ve done here to honor her,” said filmmaker Laurel Bower, who made the movie and answered questions from the audience during a discussion panel afterward.

Caroline Clarke from Iowa PBS and Cheryl Erb, president of the National 19th Amendment Society, were also part of the panel.

“This is really exciting and such a beautiful place,” Bower said of Charles City. “I have really enjoyed getting to know Cheryl and so many others here.”

Catt, who grew up in Charles City and also spent many years here as an adult, was central to the fight for women’s suffrage in the U.S. and devoted most of her life to the expansion of women’s rights around the world. Her political strategies and organizational skills have been called instrumental to the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Museum, located near Charles City, is a historic site that provides an opportunity for guests to visit the home where her personality was formed by her family and community.

“For a good story, you needed to begin where the story began,” Erb said. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to have a special screening of this documentary.”

Hosted by PBS, the screening was presented in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The amendment was passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified by the last of the required number of states on Aug. 18, 1920.

Erb said Rhoda McCartney — founder of National 19th Amendment Society — was in the audience, as were several members of the group’s board, as well as members of the Lane family.

The National 19th Amendment Society provides financial and volunteer support for maintenance of the home and museum, educational programs for all ages, and preserves the history of Catt’s life and body of work.

The screening is one of many events that the society has planned for this year in celebration of the centennial of the women’s right to vote.

Erb said that on Sunday, April 26, there will be a live presentation of “The Yellow Rose of Suffrage,” written by Iowa State University professor Jane Cox, who portrays Catt and tells her story. Cox was prominently featured in the movie shown Sunday. The free performance will be at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City.

Erb also said that on July 4, plans are to have 100 or more women and men — commemorating the 100th anniversary — walk in the annual Fourth of July Parade.

Other events planned this year by the organization include a book signing in May by Linda Meloy, author of “Century of Impact,” a history of the Iowa League of Women Voters. Meloy will be signing her book at the museum.

Plans are being made made to attend “Suffragists” in June, which is an original musical about the movement, to be performed at UNI in Cedar Falls.

In August, an open house and celebration will be held at the Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home Museum. Other activities are planned and will be announced in advance of their dates.

For additional information regarding any of these events, email visit@catt.org or call 641-228-3336 and leave a message.

The Charles Theatre was the first venue to host a screening of the PBS film. Screenings will also be held in Cedar Falls on March 3 and in Iowa City on March 26, among several other locales.

At the age of 7, Catt’s family moved to rural Charles City, where she graduated from high school in 1877. In 1880, she graduated from the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm in Ames (now Iowa State University) at the top of her class. She was also the only woman in her graduating class.

After college, she returned to Charles City to work as a law clerk and, in nearby Mason City, as a school teacher and a principal. In 1883, she became one of the first women in the nation appointed superintendent of schools before getting directly involved, and later becoming a national leader in the movement to give women the right to vote.