Broom Public Scholarship releases documentary in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters

A substantial new project from the Carleton College Broom Fund for Public Scholarship has been completed in time to mark an important historical moment. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, three recent Carleton graduates produced a video documentary highlighting the milestone.

Broom Public Scholarship Project Grants are supported by Carleton’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) and are intended to help support the completion and dissemination of a public scholarship project. Over the last year and with the help of Broom Faculty Fellow for public scholarship and professor of history Serena Zabin, three Carleton students-turned-alumni—Grace Rubin ’20, Hiba Jama ’20 and Nicki Harris ’20—created a video documentary that explores the history and future of the Northfield-Cannon Falls League of Women Voters.

“The documentary itself beautifully tells a local story with a very big message. Through both archival research and interviews with Northfield women (and one man!), it testifies to the personal struggles required to keep democracy alive, a story particularly important as we prepare for one of the most fraught elections in recent history,” said Zabin.

The documentary, titled “The History of the Northfield League of Women Voters,” was largely underwritten by grant funding from the Broom Public Scholarship and details the 100-year history of the League of Women Voters of Northfield. Additionally, the documentary shares real-life accounts from local League members.

Rubin shared in the documentary, “This year marks 100 years of women’s suffrage, and Leagues across the country are celebrating. In a time of unprecedented political polarization, the League remains a beacon of good governance and grassroots activism, empowering voters of all political stripes to do their part for democracy in America.”

“The documentary speaks to the creativity and perseverance of Carleton students, who, under the unusual pressures of last spring term, brought this complicated and nuanced project to fruition,” Zabin said.

 “I hope that what we’ve created will be as informative as it is celebratory, because that’s what the League warrants,” Rubin said.

A virtual screening of the documentary will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, followed by a conversation with the Carleton filmmakers at 8 p.m.