Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

People

Location

111 W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29306, USA

Lat/Long

34.949487859661, -81.931870551039

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

Dr. Love Rosa Hirschmann Gantt (1874–1935) is thought to be the first woman physician in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with her medical offices located on Morgan Square. Born in Camden, South Carolina, she graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina in 1901. Gantt established a private practice working as an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Spartanburg, and was also involved in public health initiatives throughout the state.

As a founding member of the South Carolina Equal Suffrage League in 1914, Gantt advocated for women’s right to vote. She was a leader in the fight for suffrage, having been appointed Legislative Chairman of the South Carolina Equal Suffrage League. In 1915, Gantt spoke before the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee to garner support for the submission of a women’s suffrage amendment to the state constitution.

Although South Carolina suffragists were unsuccessful at the state level, finally, on August 18, 1920, women across the United States achieved the right to vote with the passage and subsequent ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.