An Archbishop Stands with the Suffragists

For this year’s Archives Crawl theme, “California History in 10 Objects”, the Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco will feature items highlighting different periods of the Archdiocese’s history including the settlement of Catholic pioneers during the wake of the Gold Rush, Japanese-American Catholics’ experience during World War II, the Archdiocese’s response to social justice concerns of the 1960s, and its ministries and advocacy efforts during San Francisco’s Sanctuary City movement. 

One featured item, a resolution issued in 1915 by the California Equal Suffrage Association written in memoriam for Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan after his death in 1914, will be displayed in recognition of this year’s 100th anniversary of Congress passing the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. The resolution is among the personal papers, photographs, and related materials that comprise the Archbishop Riordan archival collection which reflect his life and service as the Archdiocese’s second archbishop from 1884 to 1914. The resolution includes language praising Archbishop Riordan's support for the Suffrage Movement at a time when the Association heard “our adversaries within and without the Church were attacking us with bitter words”, and it cites examples of his public statements and actions done on behalf of the cause. Archbishop Riordan seemed to understand the political advantages that came with supporting the enfranchisement of women when, according to the resolution, he encouraged the Society of Catholic Women to organize votes against the controversial San Francisco city ordinance to remove its cemeteries, which was a significant issue of concern during the time of his episcopacy.

The Suffrage Association ends its multi-page resolution with the following words:

“.. all woman suffrage workers join our expression of special sorrow to that of public grief, realizing as we do, that when the Requiescat in Pace was uttered for his Grace, the Most Reverend Patrick William Riordan, we too had laid to rest a powerful friend.”

The suffragists’ resolution sheds an interesting historical light on the clerical role of a Catholic bishop, and it is one of several examples demonstrating the kind of influence the Catholic Church in San Francisco and its Archbishop had on the lives of local citizens, both Catholic and non-Catholic alike. 

Read the entire resolution when you visit our table at the Labor Archives and Research Center, and learn how the Archives fulfills its mission to preserve the history of the Catholic Church’s presence throughout Northern California since before the time of statehood. For more information on the history of the Archdiocese of San Francisco since its establishment in 1853, view a video featuring Dr. Jeff Burns, former archivist for the Archdiocese, and the late Dr. Kevin Starr, California State Librarian.

"I am a citizen of no mean city, although it is in ashes. Almighty God has fixed this as the location of a great city. The past is gone, and there is no lamenting over it. Let us look to the future and without regard to creed or place of birth, and work together in harmony for the upbuilding of a greater San Francisco." 
- Archbishop Riordan in a speech shortly after the Disaster of 1906