SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN — A piece of Minnesota history thought to be lost has turned up more than 100 years after women in South St. Paul cast one of the nation’s first legal ballots after ratification of the 19th Amendment. The Dakota County Historical Society says it has obtained 15 seconds of film from that day in 1920.
The footage is tied to a water bond referendum and to Marguerite Newburgh, who cast the first ballot. Historical society staff say the discovery confirms what old newspaper accounts suggested for years: a film crew did capture the event.
How The Vote Made History
According to the historical society, about 90 women voted that day in South St. Paul. Carter said the group became the first in the country to legally vote after the 19th Amendment was ratified, making the moment a notable milestone in U.S. voting history.
Newburgh’s picture was taken at the time, and newspaper stories from the era said film was shot as well. But the actual footage had never been seen by the people preserving the city’s history, and for decades it was unclear whether any copy still existed.
How The Footage Surfaced
The break came a few years ago when a staff member at the historical society was watching a documentary on women’s voting rights. The person spotted Newburgh in the film and recognized the historical connection right away.
That discovery led the society to track down the clip and secure the 15 seconds of footage. Carter called the find amazing, especially because it brings a long-documented but little-seen moment back into view.
Why It Matters Today
The recovered film gives a direct visual record of a vote that helped mark a turning point for women’s participation in public life. It also arrives as many Minnesotans prepare to vote in next Tuesday’s primary election, which gives the old footage a timely reminder of how voting rights have changed over time.
For the historical society, the clip is more than a curiosity. It fills in a gap in the record of a local event that had already earned a place in the state’s history, but had never been fully seen until now.
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