How a mother’s letter helped secure women’s right to vote

Who was Febb Burn? 

Tennessee has a special place in history for its role in delivering voting rights for women, and Febb Burn played a crucial part in making it happen. Plus, the local news for Aug. 18, 2025, and what federal cuts to the national parks mean for our region. 

Below is a partial transcript of the episode:

It’s August 18, 2025. On this day every year, Tennessee marks “Febb Burn Day” and the right of women to vote.

The Febb is Phoebe Burn, the Tennessean who is credited with an absolutely legendary role in helping ratify the 19th Amendment in 1920.

The story of Febb Burn has been often told — I even questioned whether to highlight it. But you know, there are a lot of transplants to Tennessee, and it’s a tale worth making sure that we all share in. 

It goes like this. On this day in 1920, the Tennessee legislature seemed poised to reject the 19th Amendment. Even one vote could make a difference.  

Enter Febb Burn. She was a teacher and the manager of a farm and hosiery mill who had four children. 

Her eldest son, Harry, became a state lawmaker. And he was the recipient of one powerful letter from his mother. He had publicly been a “no” on women’s suffrage, but the letter urged him to vote in favor. 

“Don’t keep them in doubt ,” she wrote, along with “don’t forget to be a good boy.” 

With his decisive vote, Tennessee became the ratifying state.  

Now, nearly 100 years later, our state’s recent track record on voting is a bit less glowing. 

Turnout tends to rank low in the nation. And Tennessee has been found to have one of — if not the highest rate of disenfranchised voters. This is largely because of stringent rules about felony criminal records and the difficult steps needed to restore voting rights after serving time. 

Tennessee has also been part of a wave of Republican-led states that have tightened up rules on how nonprofits conduct voter registration drives. 

Because of a recent congressional resignation, part of our region finds itself in a competitive election year. House District 7 just had 11 Republicans, four Democrats, and four independents enter that race. 

The voter registration deadline for that primary is less than a month away: September 8. The final contest will be decided in December.  

Now, Febb Burn seems like the kind of person who could be lost to history. It wasn’t her name on that legislative vote. But the opposite is true: the nonprofit Suffrage Coalition makes a big deal for Febb Burn with an annual fundraising banquet in Knoxville. Tonight’s event is sold out.  

And the group has funded not one but two women’s suffrage memorials in downtown Knoxville — and the most recent features Febb and son Harry together. 

Fun fact: it was made by famed local sculptor Alan LeQuire, who has a real penchant for honoring Tennessee heroes. 

And Febb Burn certainly is a hero — so we remember her with Febb Burn Day. Tell a friend that you heard about it on the NashVillager podcast and help keep the story alive. 

Credits:
This is a production of Nashville Public Radio
Host/producer: Tony Gonzalez
Editor: Miriam Kramer
Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Nina Cardona, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP