Belle Case La Follette: Ballots and Bloomers

How do you make history?

At a time when women were expected to stay at home, Belle Case La Follette went out—first to pursue a university education, and then to fight for women’s access to the ballot box, and for peace. Her ideas and way with words made her into a trusted advisor in a family of political leaders, and she went on to advise both from backstage and then at the podium. Belle stepped over the stereotypical expectations of women of her time to advocate for important changes that continue to resonate today.

Meet Belle Case La Follette

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Questions to Consider

Belle spent a lot of time with her grandmother when she was young, who taught her to value hard work and education. How did those values affect what she did as she got older? Do you have someone in your life like Belle’s grandmother? How has that person inspired you?

While not a fan of the spotlight, Belle still made her voice heard about the things that mattered to her. How did she do that? What are ways that you could stand up for what you care about?

Even after the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, there was still more to do to make it possible for all women to vote. Why? What happened in the years after 1920?

Peek Into the Past

A framed black and white photograph of Belle as a young girl. She wears a long dress and rests her left hand on a covered stand. She looks to the right of the viewer, with a serious expression on her face.

Young Belle

A portrait of young Belle Case La Follette taken around 1865. Belle is wearing a dress that her grandmother made for her.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-27041.

Portrait of Belle

A portrait taken of Belle when she graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1879.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-55398.

A black and white portrait of Belle wearing a formal dress, seated, with her hands in her lap, looking to the left of the viewer.

Law School Graduate

Belle in 1885, around 26 years old—the year she became the first woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-3841.

Robert M La Follette

Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Belle’s college classmate and later, her husband.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-30279.

A black and white portrait of Belle wearing a formal dress, seated, with her sons next to her, looking at a book she is holding in her lap.

Belle and Her Sons

Belle with her sons, Robert and Phillip.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-30382.

This black and white photo shows Belle Case La Follette dressed in a long dress with a hat, standing on a sidewalk with her arms raised, looking to the viewer's left.

Belle Speaking

Belle giving a speech. She worked hard to spread messages arguing for equality and women’s rights.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-10803.

A black a white photograph of the Bob, Belle, and their children seated outside with trees behind them.

Family Photo

A family photo of the La Follettes. Belle and Robert Sr. are pictured with their children: Mary, Robert Jr., and Phillip.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-27038.

Votes for Women

During Belle’s time, women in Wisconsin were seeking the right to vote.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-7679.

A black and white photo of Bob and Belle as older adults standing next to each other, holding hands, in front of a tree. Both have slight smiles on their faces. Bob wears a suit and Belle wears a looser-fitting long dress.

Belle and Bob

Belle and Bob worked side by side throughout the years, just like they are standing side by side here.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-10739.

Portrait of Belle

This portrait of Belle was taken around 1924, when her husband ran for president of the United States.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-55358.

Read On

Illustrated portrait of Belle Case La Follette

Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!

Project Credits

Producer
Dan Kaplan
Becky Marburger
Kurt Griesemer

Associate Producer
Joe Young

Animation & Illustration
The Brave Union

Audiobook Narration
Kiara Bonilla

Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp

Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund

Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider

Design
Charles Barrows

Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Executive Producer
Peggy Garties

Special Thanks
Marta Bechtol

Story Advisors

Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2013)

Kaitlyn Beguhl
Section Elementary School
Mukwonago, WI

Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI

Kerri Lintl
Merrimac Community School
Merrimac, WI
(2021)

Darcy Maxwell
Summit Environmental School
La Crosse, WI
(2021)

Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)

David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)

Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2013)

Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2013)

Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2013)