A 56-minute documentary about ten Chicago women who fought for the right to vote will screen at the Lombard Historical Society on Saturday, Aug. 22, with filmmaker Rana Segal leading a discussion afterward.
"On the Wings of Change: A Chicago Suffrage Mural" traces the suffrage movement in Chicago from 1869 through the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The film follows the creation of a three-story mural at the corner of Harrison and Wabash in Chicago's Wabash Arts Corridor, painted by artist Diosa (Jasmina Cazacu) as part of the 2020 Women's Suffrage Centennial. The mural depicts ten suffragists who represent generations of women who fought for women's rights in Illinois, along with a young girl reading, representing the future.
Segal co-directed the documentary with Laurie Little. She has worked as a director, producer and cinematographer for more than 30 years, producing documentaries about the lives of Chicago women. She serves on the board of the Chicago Women's History Center, a nonprofit founded in 1971 that documents and preserves Chicago women's history. Segal has been nominated for two Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards.
The film is still a work in progress.
In a March 2022 speech to the Cliff Dwellers Club in Chicago, Segal described her approach to filmmaking: "I have always hoped that film would help to pull back the veil of hate and create more understanding in the world."
Lombard has its own suffrage landmark. Attorney Ellen Martin became the first woman to vote in Illinois on April 6, 1891, when she walked into a Lombard polling place and cast her ballot. Fourteen other Lombard women followed her lead that day. The Village of Lombard designated April 6 as "Ellen Martin Day" in 2008, and in 2020 the Historical Society dedicated a historic marker honoring Martin and the 14 women who voted.
Following the screening, Segal will discuss the making of the film and the importance of preserving stories of Chicago women who shaped history, according to the society's event listing.
The event takes place at the Lombard Historical Society, 23 W. Maple St. Residents can call 630-629-1885 or visit lombardhistory.org for details on time and registration.
Upcoming at the Lombard Historical Society:
- Saturday, Aug. 8: Camp Grant Lecture
- Friday, Aug. 14: Music on Maple Street
- Saturday, Aug. 22: "On the Wings of Change" documentary screening
