1995-1996

The Catt’s Out of the Bag

1995 The Catt’s Out of the Bag

September 29, 1995  —  The Catt’s Out of The Bag

An essay about Carrie Chapman Catt was published in UHURU!, the newsletter of ISU’s Black Student Alliance.  The essay entitled “The Catt is out of the Bag: Was she racist?” raised issues of racism within the woman suffrage movement and questioned whether Catt was racist.

October 6, 1995 — Catt Hall Naming Dedication Ceremony

Official naming dedication of Catt Hall takes place. President Jischke declares “This building is a symbol of Iowa State’s commitment to equality.”  For Iowa State Daily news coverage of the naming ceremony press here.

October 17, 1995 — Director of Women’s Center Questions Issues of Racism

Celia E. Naylor-Ojurongbe, then-Director of ISU’s Women’s Center, authors an essay explaining her disappointment with a panel discussion about Carrie Chapman Catt which took place during the week of the naming dedication.  According to Naylor-Ojurongbe, The panel discussion, “Race, Ethnicity and Gender in the Suffrage Movement” did not sufficiently address issues of racism and ethnocentrism within the woman suffrage movement.  Also included in this essay is Naylor-Ojurongbe’s reaction to how Professor Cox responded to the issue of racism.

The Community reacts . . .

As the Iowa State community hears of the connection between Catt and charges of racism, a reaction is seen in the opinion pages of the Iowa State Daily.

November 3, 1995 — ISU Daily reports on “Untold History” (racism and xenophobia) and Director of Women’s Center questions the naming of Catt Hall

The Iowa State Daily newspaper reports on the unfolding story, including not just racism, but also issues of xenophobia and classism.  The newspaper reports that in a speech entitled “Danger to Our Government,” Catt wrote “Danger to Our Government.” In her opening remarks, Catt said, “This government is menaced with a great danger … that danger lies in the votes possessed by the males in the slums of the cities, and the ignorant foreign vote which was sought to be brought up by each party, to make political success … There is but one way to avert the danger: Cut off the vote of the slums and give to woman …”

Director of ISU’s Women Center, Celia Naylor-Ojurongbe, questioned the naming of Catt Hall:  “… in light of the fact that the recruitment and retention of people of color whether they be faculty, staff or students has become an important issue, and in light of the fact that there is a diversity requirement that was just passed, and in light of the fact that a number of African American faculty and staff have recently left this university, it is ironic to me that this building was renamed for Carrie Chapman Catt.”

November 3, 1995 — Catt Center to explore venues to discuss racism

ISU Daily reports that the Catt Center will explore venues to discuss issues recently raised about racism in the woman suffrage movement.

November 6, 1995 — ISU Daily Editorial Board: “Catt controversy could have been avoided”

ISU’s Editorial Board writes editorial questioning whether the controversy could have been avoided, concluding that “Without properly addressing Catt’s history in its entirety, a week that was organized to promote unity has now torn people apart. All because somebody didn’t do their homework.”

November 8, 1995 — Professor Cox explains “historical context” of Catt’s writings and speeches.

In an ISU column, Professor Jane Cox explains her perspective of Catt.

November 15, 1995 — “We knew of her comments and written remarks that could be viewed as racist” — Elizabeth Hoffman, Dean of LAS

Elizabeth Hoffman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, talks about “strategic sacrifices” in an essay published in the ISU Daily.

November 17, 1995 — Meron Wondwosen explains the essay, “The Catt is Out of the Bag: Was She Racist?”

Meron Wondwosen discusses the intent and contents of the essay “The Catt is Out of the Bag:  Was She Racist?” in a November 17, 1995 daily column.

November 28, 1995 — A Response to Dean Hoffman

ISU student Laurisha McClarin explains that “Prejudice, discrimination and racism [are] different.”

1996 A “Movement” begins

February 23, 1996 — The Letter Writing Campaign Begins.  A “Movement” begins.

Students and faculty meet and discuss a letter writing campaign.  Allan Nosworthy predicted:  “This is not going to happen in a semester, a semester and a summer, or even a semester, a summer, and another semester,” Nosworthy paid. “You’re either in this for the long haul or you are not.”

The ISU Daily reports that the letter writing campaign is in response to “allegations of racism, classicism and xenophobia.”

To see the letter which over 1,000 people have signed, press here.

February 29, 1996 — ISU columnist gives “A brief review of Catt”

ISU Daily columnist Tim Frerking reports on Carrie Chapman Catt and gives historical “facts.”  When contacted later by a member of The September 29th Movement, Frerking stated that he had used no supporting documentation for this column and had based his information about Catt solely on conversations with ISU Professor Jane Cox.

March 6, 1996 — 100 Silent marchers converge on Catt Hall

Students brave bitter cold weather in a silent march on Catt Hall.  Thomas Thielen, then vice president for student affairs states: “I assume their expression is not going unnoticed.”  The ISU Daily provides coverage of the silent march.

March 8, 1996 — GSB to introduce resolution “Recognizing a Year-Long Controversy”

The ISU Daily reports that GSB will consider a resolution to recommend changing the name of Catt Hall.

March 20, 1996 — GSB supports changing the name of Catt Hall

ISU Daily reports that the GSB passed a resolution supporting changing the name of Catt Hall, “Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Hoffman, who was at the meeting and who spoke in favor of keeping the name of Catt Hall, said the debate at the meeting was the best of what happens at a university. ‘Everyone was given a chance to express their views, and it was done in a civil and eloquent way. I think it was important that it happened. We need to have more debates like that when an issue divides the students,” Hoffman said.”

March 25, 1996 — “The students have spoken — Now that GSB has let its voice be heard, it’s time to change the name of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall” ISU Daily reports

March 25, 1996 — ISU Professor Jane Cox has Library of Congress fax her 16 speeches of Catt’s for Charles Dobbs, Executive Assistant to ISU President, Martin Jischke.  (copy of letter on file at Ames Library collection of Catt speeches)

March 26, 1996 — Kirk Smith, Associate Professor of Iowa State (Music), enters Catt Hall debate,

Smith states, “Those students and faculty who are now the champions of the cause to change the name had the opportunity to express their views privately and publicly years ago.”

March 27, 1996 — Synthia Mass asks for brick to be removed from Catt Plaza

March 27, 1996 — GSB President vetoes GSB Catt Hall resolution

Tim Lane, Catt’s great, great nephew makes an emotional plea to the GSB.

April 4, 1996 — Catt Hall Forum

ISU Daily reports that according to Judy Dolphin – Director of Ames YWCA — “the Iowa Humanities Board gave a grant to the planning committee for the purpose of facilitating the discussion of any problems that might arise. The committee used the grant to put together a panel that was to discuss the issue, but that didn’t happen.”

Dolphin states, “The panel didn’t answer questions that needed answered.” According to Dolphin, the committee was “very disappointed” that these issues were not covered.”

April 4, 1996 “the South in 1920 was immersed in racism” says Farwell Brown, Ames Historian

In “Three Cheers for Catt,” Brown describes Catt’s arguments as compromised, but not Amendment.

April 5, 1996 — Rename building after woman recommends ISU Alum

In “the ol’ shell game,” Rachel Bandy recommends name change

April 9, 1996 — Recognize Faulty Arguments says ISU Alumn

In “Check, please” ISU Alum Gabriel Clausen urges the community to take a look at the faulty (majority rules) arguments.

April 11, 1996 — NAACP (Ames) Announces support of The September 29th Movement

April 12, 1996 — Female lawmakers give their support to Catt Hall Name/NAACP calls for renaming

April 12, 1996–Remembering our heritage (Update AMWH)

April 17, 1996 — Two women cover their bricks at the Catt Hall plaza

April 22, 1996 — Dean Hoffman supports adding a plaque at Catt Hall

The suggested text for the Plaque was

“Iowa State University recognizes that many prominent leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, including Carrie Chapman Catt, used country of origin, class, ethnicity, race and religion to exploit ignorance in their quest to ratify the women’s right to vote. This is a painful piece of history. Political strategies that manipulate our fears continue today. For tomorrow, let us dedicate ourselves to combat the political rhetoric that manipulates us through our fears of those different from ourselves.”

Please note that this text was supported by Dean Hoffman (LAS), Dean Daly (Education) who was then acting chair of Diversity Committee, and A. Sean Taylor, ISU student.

May 6, 1996 — Catt Hall Controversy is covered in many news mediums

ISU Daily recaps recent events in an outline and also reports that that Catt Hall controversy was covered in the following news media: the Des Moines Register, the Omaha World Herald, Time magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, U.S. News and World Reports, Rocky Mountain News, Charleston Gazette, Washington Times, the Courier Journal-Milwaukee, and USA Today.

June 11, 1996 — 14 NAACP Branches announce support renaming Catt Hall

July 2, 1996 — Letter to ISU President Jischke from The September 29th Movement asking for investigation of the removal of cloth coverings at the Catt Hall plaza

July 9, 1996 — ISU Daily Editorial Board notes lackluster response from administration regarding Catt Hall issue

See ISU’s July 18, 1996 Daily for the response by University Relations Interim Director John Anderson.  Anderson states that for over a year, President Jischke’s response has been consistent — that he will not recommend a change in the name of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall to the Board of Regents.  Calls some of Catt’s statements “regrettable.”

July 25, 1996 — University removes bricks for two women at Catt Hall plaza

  • Murray Blackwelder, ISU’s vice president for external affairs “agrees” that some of Catt’s comments were “regrettable.”