Historic Women in American History
March is Women’s History Month
Commemorating and Encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Sandra Day O'Connor
(b. 1930)
First Woman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
First Woman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Barbara Jordan
(1936 – 1996)
Civil Rights Leader. Congresswoman. First African American Woman to give Keynote Address; Democratic National Convention, 1976.
Civil Rights Leader. Congresswoman. First African American Woman to give Keynote Address; Democratic National Convention, 1976.
Carson McCullers
(1917 – 1967)
American Novelist. Essayist. Playwright. Short Story Writer.
American Novelist. Essayist. Playwright. Short Story Writer.
Rachel Carson
Marine Biologist. Author of Silent Spring. Conservationist.
Marine Biologist. Author of Silent Spring. Conservationist.
(1907 – 1964)
Billie Jean King
Tennis Champion
Tennis Champion
(b. 1943)
Gramma Moses
American artist, who started her successful career at 78.
American artist, who started her successful career at 78.
(1860 – 1961)
Lady Bird Johnson
First Lady; 1963-1969. Second Lady, 1961-1963. Business woman
First Lady; 1963-1969. Second Lady, 1961-1963. Business woman
(1912 – 2007)
Annie Sullivan
Helen’s Keller’s teacher, and lifelong companion
Helen’s Keller’s teacher, and lifelong companion
(1866 – 1936)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Lawyer. Second female associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; 1993-2020
Lawyer. Second female associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; 1993-2020
(1933 – 2020)
Margaret Mitchell
1937 Pulitzer Prize winner, Gone With The Wind
1937 Pulitzer Prize winner, Gone With The Wind
(1900 – 1949)
Bella Abzug
Lawyer. Congresswoman. Activist in the Women’s Movement
Lawyer. Congresswoman. Activist in the Women’s Movement
(1920 – 1998)
Maya Angelou
Poet. Memoirist. Civil Rights Activist. Performer
Poet. Memoirist. Civil Rights Activist. Performer
(1928 – 2014)
Betty Furness
Actress. LBJ’s Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs. Consumer Correspondent, The Today Show
Actress. LBJ’s Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs. Consumer Correspondent, The Today Show
(1916 – 1994)
Helen Hayes
'First Lady of American Theatre'. One of 16 actors to have won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT)
'First Lady of American Theatre'. One of 16 actors to have won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT)
(1900 – 1993)
Jane Addams
Founder of Chicago's Hull House. Social worker. 1931 recipient of Nobel Peace Prize
Founder of Chicago's Hull House. Social worker. 1931 recipient of Nobel Peace Prize
(1860 – 1935)
Edith Wharton
Novelist of the Gilded Age. First woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Literature; 1921’s The Age of Innocence
Novelist of the Gilded Age. First woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Literature; 1921’s The Age of Innocence
(1862 – 1937)
Amelia Earhart
First aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
First aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
(1897 – 1937)
Eleanor Roosevelt
Longest tenure as First Lady 1933-1945. Chairman, United Nations Committee on Human Rights
Longest tenure as First Lady 1933-1945. Chairman, United Nations Committee on Human Rights
(1884 – 1962)
Clara Barton
Founder, American Red Cross
Founder, American Red Cross
(1821 – 1912)
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Writer. Women’s Rights Activist. Suffragette
Writer. Women’s Rights Activist. Suffragette
(1815 – 1902)
Rosa Parks
'Mother of the Civil Rights Movement'
'Mother of the Civil Rights Movement'
(1913 – 2005)
Mary McLeod Bethune
American Educator. Civil Rights Leader
American Educator. Civil Rights Leader
(1875 – 1955)
Mary Todd Lincoln
First Lady, 1861-1865
First Lady, 1861-1865
(1818 – 1882)
Katherine Johnson
NASA scientist. 'Human Computer'. Subject of the film, Hidden Figures
NASA scientist. 'Human Computer'. Subject of the film, Hidden Figures
(1918 – 2020)
Coretta Scott King
Author. Activist. Civil Rights Leader. Wife of Martin Luther King
Author. Activist. Civil Rights Leader. Wife of Martin Luther King
(1927 – 2006)
Shirley Chisholm
First African American woman elected to Congress. First African American candidate for President of the United States, 1972
First African American woman elected to Congress. First African American candidate for President of the United States, 1972
(1924 – 2005)
