August 17, 2012 9:30 am The standard image of the writing, and
signing, of the US Constitution is one of a bunch of white guys
sitting around a big table with fancy pens. But “is there
anything in the US Constitution written by women?” asks Joe
Janes with the Information Science department at the University
of Washington in the third episode of his podcast series
Documents that Changed the World. Probably not, he says, though
if you had to guess, your best bet would be the 19th amendment,
the ratification of which in 1920 gave women the right to vote.
“It’s only 39 words, but powerful words they are. Opening the
door to half a nation to fully participate in civic life,” Janes
says. In the podcast, Janes explores the history of the 19th
amendment, which he says may, or may not, have been written in
part by Susan B. Anthony. Which would make her the first, and
perhaps only, woman to have a hand in crafting a constitutional
amendment. But, as part of seeking out the role of women in
penning the Constitution Jane