in 2004 we commissioned a new portrait of jeanette rankin. she was a person so important in the history and expansion of rights and representation in congress. and we commissioned it we wanted to show what it was like to come into congress is the first woman , when women can't vote nationally. because it was the 20th century, 19 16, 1917 when she is elected inventors congress, she does a lot of newspaper coverage of it. because she is a woman being a novelty, there a lot of coverage of what she is wearing. wasnow exactly what she wearing so the portrait itself chose her in that navy blue dress. we know she was wearing a big hat, we know it's what the washington post said that morning and the portrait has her holding the washington post. she is wearing that hat and is placed in the portrait just outside the timber doors. if were to enter into that space with her she was just about to turn to her right and enter the chamber, at which point she would take off her hat. hats were not born in the chamber even know there was much discussion of as a

commissioned a new portrait of jeanette rankin. she is a person so important in the history of rights and representation in congress. likented to show what it's to come into congress when women don't even have the right to vote nationally. when she enters congress, coverage lot of because she's a novelty and there's a lot of coverage about what she is wearing. we know exactly what she's wearing. the portrait shows her in that navy blue dress. she was wearing a big hat and we know what the washington post the that morning so portrait has her holding the "washington post." she's placed in that portrait just outside the chamber doors. if we were to enter into that space, she was just about to turn to her right and enter the which point, she would take off her hat because hats were not warned in the chamber. .hat is formal attire it she not a woman or a member of congress and therefore shouldn't wear it? she's a member of congress more than she is her gender, so she takes it off. sense of the fact she was in the house that much other c

. >> the story of women in congress begins with jeanette rankin who is elected to the house in 1916 from montana. foris elected to the house years before women have the right to vote nationally. in a way, she is really a bridge between the suffrage movement, two women attaining full political rights. in a national women's suffrage organization. rightlped women get the to vote, not only in montana, but a couple of states west of the mississippi. she runs in 1916, she is elected to one of montana's large districts. is at sher platform is a pacifist. she is one into the house on april 2, 1917. the house has come into special session, extraordinary session has the president, that night woodrow wilson delivers a message to congress asking for a declaration of war against germany, it was the u.s. entry into world war i. ,ankin, when that vote is held is one of a group of about 50 members who votes against u.s. intervention in world war i. ,he served a term in the house she was on the woman's suffrage on the public was lands committee, which was an important assignment from -- for a woman from

unanimously, passes a war resolution and the house begins debating in the house members know that jeanette rankin is a pacifist and she's going to vote for conscience, so we have some oral histories of people who are in the chamber who recall members going up to rankin and asking her to vote -- vote present, not know. she votes are conscience in the indent opposes the work. that effectively ended her political career. she goes back into private life the antiwarforce movement for another couple of decades but a remarkable career. >> in 2004, we commissioned a new orchard of jeanette franken. she was the person who is so important in the history and expansion of rights and representation in congress. we wanted to show what it was like to come in to congress as a first woman, when women don't even have the right to vote nationally. because it was the 20th century, 1916, 1917 and she enters congress, there is a lot of newspaper coverage of it. because she is a woman, there's a lot of novelty. we know exactly what she was wearing. portrait shows her in that navy blue dress and we know she was wearing

on april 2, 1917, jeanette nette rankin of a firstwas sworn in as woman into congress. here's a brief look at her life and career. >> that story of women in congress begins with jeannette rankin of montana. she is elected for years before women have the right to vote nationally. in a way, she is a bridge from womenffrage movement to attaining full political rights. nationalctive in a women's suffrage organization. she helped a woman get the right to vote not only in montana but in a couple states west of the mississippi. she runs, in 1916. she is elected to one of montana's two at-large districts pay part of her form is she is a pacifist. she is sworn into the house on april 2, 1917. the house has come into special session, extraordinary session, because the president that night, woodrow wilson, delivers a message to congress, asking for a declaration of war against germany. the u.s. entry into world war i. held,, when that vote is is one of the group of about 50 members who votes against u.s. intervention in world war i. she served a term in the house. she was on the w

congress of women in begins with jeanette rankin, who is elected into the house from montana. the house for to years before women have the right to vote nationally. in a way, she is really a bridge from the suffrage movement to women obtaining full political rights. in a national women's suffrage organization. she helped women get the right to vote, not only in montana but a couple of states west in mississippi. in 196, she is elected to one of two district. she is a pacifist. she is sworn into the house on april 2, 1917. the house has come into extraordinary session because the president that night, woodrow wilson, delivers a message to congress asking for a declaration of war against germany, the u.s. entry into world war i. rankin, when that vote is held, is one of a group of 50 members who votes against u.s. intervention in world war i. she served a term in the house p she was on the women's suffrage committee. she was ont public lands committee, which was an important assignment for a woman from montana with so much of the lands being held by the federal government. a ter

the house members know that jeanette rankin is a pacifist, and she is going to vote her conscience. we have some oral histories of people who are in the chamber overcall members going up to her and asking her to vote presence, don't vote no. she votes her conscience. she is the lone vote against entry into world war ii. that effectively ended her political career. she goes back into private life. in the antiwar movement for another couple of decades. a remarkable career. >> in 2004, we commissioned a new portrait of jeannette rankin. she is a person who is so important in the history and expansion of rights and representation in congress. show what it was like to come into congress as the first woman when women don't even have the right to vote nationally. ,ecause it was the 20th century 1916 in 1917 when she is elected and enters congress, there is a lot of newspaper coverage. because she is a woman, there is a lot of coverage of what she is wearing. we know exactly what she is wearing. the portrait shows her in that navy blue dress. we know she was wearing a big hat. we know exact