Beyond Suffrage (Cotnam-5)

Beyond leading the suffrage movement, Florence Cotnam practiced what she taught her citizenship students by supporting the Democratic National Committee. During World War I, Cotnam headed fundraising efforts for the Democratic Victory Fund. The Democratic Party made her a delegate to state conventions in 1918, 1919, and 1922.

In 1932, Cotnam became an Arkansas delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The party also utilized her speaking abilities to persuade doubtful states during the election seasons of the 1920s, and they chose Cotnam to be a presidential elector for Arkansas in 1924.

Image of a newspaper clipping of Palmer Headquarters, April 14, 1920. courtesy The Chicago Daily News.
Palmer Headquarters, April 14, 1920. Courtesy The Chicago Daily News. (https://royaldentallabs.com)

She also exercised her responsibility as a voter by endorsing presidential candidates. Cotnam acted as the chairman for A. Mitchell Palmer’s campaign in western headquarters in 1920 and 1924, and she endorsed Alfred E. Smith in 1928 and 1932. However, neither candidate succeeded.

image from The Chattanooga News of Florence Cotnam, 1920.
Florence Cotnam, chairman for Palmer’s Western Campaign Headquarters, May 6 1920. Courtesy The Chattanooga News, TN.
This is a scanned flyer announcing Florence Cotnam speaking at Smith-Robinson Club, October 2, 1928. courtesy UA Little Rock CAHC.
Florence Cotnam speaking at Smith-Robinson Club, October 2, 1928. 

 

Florence Cotnam remained active in democratic politics, women’s rights, and political education until her death on October 7, 1932. She is buried in Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock. Although Cotnam passed away, her life’s mission lives every time a politically knowledgeable individual casts their vote.