Saratoga Springs History Museum to Open Frank Leslie Buys Women’s Votes Exhibit This September

This September, the Saratoga Springs History Museum will unveil a powerful new exhibition celebrating one of the most influential — and often overlooked — women in American journalism and the fight for women’s suffrage.

Opening on September 26, Frank Leslie Buys Women’s Votes explores the remarkable life of Miriam Leslie, the publishing powerhouse who transformed American media and helped finance the final push for women’s voting rights in the United States.

The exhibit’s Opening Reception will take place at 6 PM at the museum’s historic Canfield Casino location in Saratoga Springs.

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Born Miriam Leslie, she inherited her husband’s publishing empire after his death and boldly adopted his professional name — Frank Leslie — to continue operating within the male-dominated publishing industry of the late 19th century.

Under her leadership, Leslie expanded the influence of her publications while using journalism as a tool for social and political change. Her publications became nationally recognized, particularly after their rapid coverage of President James Garfield’s assassination helped elevate the brand’s reputation across the country.

But her greatest legacy may have come later.

Before her death, Leslie left nearly $2 million to suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, providing critical financial support to the women’s suffrage movement. Historians widely recognize this contribution as instrumental in helping secure the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in the United States.

Saratoga Springs and the Rise of a Social Icon

The exhibition also highlights Leslie’s close ties to Saratoga Springs, where she became a prominent social figure among the nation’s elite during the Gilded Age.

Visitors will explore how the city shaped Leslie’s personal evolution and public identity, while also discovering the broader cultural and political atmosphere of Saratoga during a transformative period in American history.

Through archival materials, storytelling, and historical interpretation, the exhibit paints a vivid portrait of a woman who used media, influence, and philanthropy to leave a lasting mark on American society.

Opening Reception Details

The public is invited to attend the exhibit’s opening celebration on September 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the Saratoga Springs History Museum, located at 1 East Congress Street in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The evening will include hors d’oeuvres provided by Simply Food by Maura, along with drinks and special access to the exhibition.

Ticket pricing:

• $30 for museum members

• $40 for non-members

For tickets and additional information, guests can contact the museum at (518) 584-6920 or email info@saratogahistory.org.

Preserving Saratoga’s Stories

The Saratoga Springs History Museum continues its mission of preserving and sharing the city’s rich cultural history through exhibitions, educational programming, and community events that connect visitors with the people and stories that shaped Saratoga Springs.

With Frank Leslie Buys Women’s Votes, the museum shines a light on a pioneering woman whose impact on journalism and women’s rights still resonates more than a century later.