Existing comment:
Susan B. Anthony's gavel, 1888
Gavel, 1970s
This reproduction of Susan B. Anthony's gavel was broken by Bella Abzug during the conference.
The Authority of Memory and Creating New Icons
Congresswoman Bella Abzug sponsored the congressional legislation funding the conference and served as its presiding officer and public face. She forcefully linked the goals of the conference to earlier women's rights conventions by using, and accidentally breaking, a reproduction of Susan B. Anthony's ivory and rosewood gavel during the meetings. |