THE SOCIAL INSURANCE MOVEMENT--The 1912 Presidential Election gggff

This is a collection of photographs from the National Convention of the Progressive Party, which was held from August 5-12, 1912 in Chicago, Illinois. Newspaper photographers in Chicago working for the Chicago Daily News captured these images before and during the Convention. (All photos are from the Library of Congress.)

A crowd of conventioneers gathers at the Progressive Party National Convention site on South Michigan Avenue in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois on August 3, 1912--two days before the formal opening of the Convention. Photo courtesy of Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society, DN-0059210.   Robert Eaton of Elwood, Illinois, sitting in a room probably in the Congress Hotel. Mr. Eaton was attending the Progressive Party National Convention of 1912. Photo taken August 3, 1912. Photo courtesy of Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society, DN-0059219.         Albert E. Isley, State Senator of Illinois, standing in front of the Congress Hotel. Senator Isley was believed to be attending the Convention. Photo taken August 3, 1912. Photo courtesy of Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society, DN-0059212.   Mrs. Isabella Blancy, California delegate to the Progressive Party National Convention, standing in front of the Congress Hotel on August 3, 1912. The Progressive Party (unlike the Republicans and the Democrats) called for women's suffrage as part of his platform. Not only were there many female voting delegates to the Convention (unlike the other two parties in which women were present in ceremonial roles), but women were leaders of the Party and the Convention as well. The strong role of women in the 1912 Convention was very much noted and discussed during the time. Important Progressive Era female reformers, such as Jane Addams, attended the Convention and supported the Progressive Party. In fact, Jane Addams gave a seconding speech on behalf of TR's candidacy. Her speech was the first time in American history that a woman had been allowed to address the convention of a major political party. Photo courtesy of Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society, DN-0059211.