Papers by Meghan McClellan
backwards given their strong presence in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition of Chicago. The Wo... more backwards given their strong presence in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition of Chicago. The Women's Building of the Chicago Exhibition gave women an active voice and presence in America. The revelation that not a single woman was appointed to any position on the board of delicates shocked numerous prominent women active in the 1893 exposition, most notably Bertha Honore Palmer, the Head of the Board of Lady Managers for the World's Columbian Exposition. 2 American women expected to have some representation in the 1900 Paris event given the progressive visibility of women in the Columbian Exposition. Yet, many United States male officials objected the presence of women in the international exposition arguing that women would ultimately be a "fifth wheel" and that "we have no such funds to spend in such a useless direction." 3 Ferdinand W. Peck even went so far as to say that women would be "embarrassed" because the appointees would likely be " 'persona non grata' to the French Officials." 4 However, Mrs. Palmer was not to be dissuaded and persisted to push her agenda. A few months before the scheduled inauguration, Palmer was appointed by President Delegation to the Universal Exposition of 1900. 5 Male delegates aimed to pacify Palmer and her unrelenting quest for a visible female American voice claiming that the French had agreed to a Women's Pavilion. However, the Paris Pavilion presented a much 2 Ibid. 25. 3 As quoted in Rydell, 138. 4 As quoted in Griffith, 17. The choice to alienate the French Officials ability to recognize a women's position of authority, as it would be implied by her presence on the Commission, presents an interesting ploy asserting the United States superiority in recognizing gender social issues. While, ironically, not presenting an internationally progressive presence of gender "equality". 5 Griffith, 20.
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Papers by Meghan McClellan