Justice Bell Foundation
Reclaiming Women's History ~ Highlighting Women's Contributions ~ Promoting Voter Participation
The Justice Bell and the Fight for the Vote
Pennsylvania Women and the Expansion of Democracy
Panel Three: Creating a Woman's Liberty Bell
Learn how Pennsylvania suffragists created the Justice Bell, a powerful symbol modeled after the Liberty Bell.
Ruschenberger was interviewed by a reporter the day after the bell was forged in Troy, New York. "For years, Mrs. Ruschenberger has been an ardent suffragist, working always with the firm conviction that the desire of women for the ballot was a just one and, for that reason alone, must prevail. How to visualize that conviction was another matter. But when the idea of the Woman’s Liberty Bell came to her, she felt that the problem was as good as solved. This was a year ago. Yesterday the bell was cast in the foundry of the Meneely Bell Company at Troy, New York. . . . It will carry the words “Establish Justice.” Mrs. Ruschenberger has ordered that clause added because in her opinion, “justice is the basic principle, upon which women as sharers in the burden of democracy finally rest their claim to enfranchisement.” Delaware County Daily Times, April 1, 1915
For a full account of the creation of the Justice Bell, including photographs, newspapers articles, consult The Justice Bell: Tracing the Journey of a Forgotten Symbol by Amanda Owen and published by the Justice Bell Foundation. The Justice Bell is available on Amazon and other online retailers and bookstores. Read the description and reviews here.
Special Note
Information and images provided on the panel and this corresponding website page are intended for personal and classroom use only. The information and its presentation remain the intellectual property of the authors, in partnership with the Justice Bell Foundation, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, or otherwise used for commercial or other purposes without permission.
Click on a panel image below to view a larger image. Click on the links below to read about other panels.
Explore the Exhibit
As you move through the exhibition, you'll explore the story of the Justice Bell, the women who fought for voting rights, and the movement that helped expand American democracy. We invite you to consider not only how the vote was won but also why civic participation continues to matter today.
In 1913, Erie hosted one of Pennsylvania’s first suffrage parades when local women helped energize the statewide campaign for votes for women.
Panel Two: Pennsylvania Women Organize
Discover the statewide network of women and organizations that organized meetings, rallies, publications, and public events to advance the campaign for women's suffrage.
Panel Three: Creating a Woman’s Liberty Bell
Learn how Pennsylvania suffragists created the Justice Bell, a powerful symbol modeled after the Liberty Bell.
Panel Four: The 1915 Justice Bell Tour
Follow the Justice Bell’s journey across Pennsylvania during the 1915 suffrage campaign.
Panel Five: The Justice Bell Rings
After a long struggle for voting rights, the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 marked a historic victory for women’s suffrage.
Panel Six: We Stand on Their Shoulders
Meet some of the remarkable women whose courage and determination helped secure voting rights for women and strengthen American democracy.
