This Day in History May 5, 1809

Nothing like a straw hat for a lady to look especially chic, right?  And the Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for any U.S. citizen to protect his/her invention with a patent.  I am sure that most did not figure women would get in on this--especially back in the date.  Most women didn't even try to patent their ideas.  However, Mary Dixon Kies had other ideas.  She had invented a way to improve hat-making.  Betsy Metcalf actually invented a method of straw weaving, but she didn't patent her invention.  She said she didn't want her name going to Congress.  (I probably wouldn't have minded back then, but in light of today, I can understand her trepidation!  I don't know I would want my name going to today's Congress.)  Kies didn't have the same concern.  She patented her way of weaving straw with silk.  Unfortunately, she didn't make any money with her invention, and she died penniless.

For more information:
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/nation/jb_nation_maryk_1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dixon_Kies
http://famousdaily.com/history/first-woman-issued-patent.html

This Day in History January 19, 1966

It was on this date in 1966, that the women pictured above, Indira Gandhi, became the first female prime minister of India.  She was the only child of prime minister  Jawaharlal Nehru.  From 1947 to 1964, she served as her father's chief of staff.  Her last name came from her lawyer husband (not any relation to the well-known Gandhi).  Her father and successor died, so she was elected to prime minister by India's congress.  She ruled with a strong hand, and there was much controversy concerning her and her policies.  On October 31, 1984, two of her bodyguards shot her in the garden of her residence as prime minister.  Doctors tried to save her, but she was sustained at least 30 bullet wounds.

For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi
http://www.biography.com/people/indira-gandhi-9305913
http://famousdaily.com/history/indira-ghandi-prime-minister-india.html

This Day in History June 28, 1976

Kind of interesting feature today.  It was on this date i n 1976, that the first women were admitted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.  There was a total of 157 women, and in 1980, 97 of those women graduated.  

I find it interesting that it took so long for this sort of thing to occur.  But then again, women in the military is something that is still not widely promoted.  I know when I think of military, I think of men, not women.  Even I am influenced by the stereotypes.

For more information, please check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Academy#Women_at_the_Academy

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123055380

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/usafa.htm

http://atlantisonline.smfforfree2.com/index.php?topic=10531.0

This Day in History May 21, 1881

You have probably heard of this lady before--Clara Barton.  Yes, she was the one who tended soldiers during the Civil War.  But non this date in 1881, it was Clara Barton who founded the American Red Cross.

I did not realize how difficult it was for her to get the U.S. to accept the idea of the Red Cross.  The Civil War had ended, and the U.S. was quite sure they would never be involved in war again.  Clara Barton was 60 years old when she finally established the Red Cross to help those with natural disasters.  Due to internal feuding, she had to resign as president of the Red Cross in 1904.  She never married, but I believe hers is a legacy that will continue down through the ages to come.

For a lot more information, please check out:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-red-cross-founded
http://americancivilwar.com/women/cb.html
http://clarabartonbirthplace.org/site/?q=node/15
http://history1900s.about.com/od/medicaladvancesissues/p/redcross.htm
http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/claraBarton.asp

This Day in History February 22, 1975

Yes, indeed.  I have liked Drew Barrymore (without knowing her name) since I first saw her in E.T.  (Oh, that dates me!) And it was on this date in 1975 (about six months after my birth) that she was born.

I was not aware of her turbulent adolescence.  I didn't really follow her career, but she did overcome drugs.  I know that there are things about here personal life and career with which I do not agree.  I was glad to learn that she is related to the famous Barrymore family.  What a family of actors and actresses!

I have always loved watching her act.  I find her a fantastic actress, and she always seems so classy.  My favorite films of hers are Wedding Singer and Ever After.  I have seen her in one or two others--Fever Pitch was kind of cheesy.  But her comedic timing and classiness always tend to win me over.

If you would like to explore her career and life in detail, check out these sites:
http://www.drewbarrymore.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Barrymore#Personal_life
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000106/

This Day in History February 14, 1847

I had never heard of this lady before--maybe you have?  On this date in 1847, Anna Howard Shaw was born in England. In 1851 (or 1853), her family immigrated to the U.S., and Anna grew up on a farm in Michigan. By the age of 15, she was already teaching school on the frontier.

In 1880, she did something with which I do not agree--I do not approve of female ministers unless they are not the "lead minister" in the church. She received a degree in theology and medicine, but her desire was to be a minister. In 1880, her dream came true--she was ordained by the Methodist Protestant denomination (the Methodist Episcopal refused to permit her to preach).

Once she met Susan B. Anthony, and she resigned her pastorate in 1885. She became an advocate for women's suffrage--she even served as vice-president and president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She fell ill during a lecture tour in 1919, and she died shortly thereafter: July 2, 1919.  She never did see women get the right to vote, but that amendment did happen shortly after he death.

For more information:
http://www.infoplease.com/birthday?month=Feb&day=14
http://www.answers.com/topic/shaw-anna-howard
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/539038/Anna-Howard-Shaw
http://www.biography.com/people/anna-howard-shaw-9480841

This Day in History February 4, 1921

On this date, this woman, Betty Friedan, was born in 1921.  Interestingly enough, she died exactly 85 years later.  She was born in Peoria, Illinois, and she graduated in 1943 with a Bachelor's degree.  She could have gone on to get her master's degree, but she chose to go to work as a reporter. She had done this due to her own mother's unhappiness at leaving her journalism job to be a stay-at-home mom.

Friedan married in 1947, and she left her job to be a stay-at-home mom, but she returned to work after her first child was born.  In 1949, she was fired when she asked for maternity leave since she was pregnant with her second child.   When the unions did nothing, she accepted her lot and stayed at home and became a free-lance writer.

In 1963, she published her first book The Feminine Mystique.  It became a best-seller and was eventually translated into 13 languages.  In 1966, she joined with the new women's organization NOW and was the first president.  She worked for the ERA adoption in 1967 (which of course, failed).  She also worked to overturn anti-abortion legislation.

She died of congestive heart failure on her 85th birthday.

While I am sure I owe her a lot, I don't support NOW nor abortion (nor gay rights, which she also supported).  It is just a personal opinion of mine that I believe is backed up by the Bible, but I am not going to say any more about this potentially explosive topic.  No one can deny that she was instrumental in helping women get more rights.  I am sure I wouldn't be where I am today without her tireless efforts.

For more information, you can check out:
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/bettyfriedan/p/betty_friedan.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/bettyfriedan/p/betty_friedan.htm
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120201/LIFE/202010306/How-Betty-Friedan-redefined-working-women
http://www.biography.com/people/betty-friedan-9302633
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Freidan

This Day in History January 10, 1870

I was intrigued to find out that on this date in 1870, the lady pictured above was born.  And you might think--what does that have to do with me?  Who is she?  Her name was Maud Younger, and she was important in women's history.

She was born in San Francisco, CA to a wealthy family.  This meant that she was educated in the finest schools and traveled abroad somewhat regularly.

Amazingly, in spite of her wealth, she was not the typical socialite.  When she was around 30, she visited New York and saw first hand settlements of poor immigrants workers.  She even stayed in one of the settlement houses so she could witness the work of social reformers first hand.  She only planned on staying a week, but she ended up staying five years.  She then became a working woman (a waitress) and championed the suffrage movement and trade unions.

In 1911, she continued her efforts by organizing a woman's suffrage movement and a successful lobby for an 8-hour workday.  In 1913, she worked tirelessly with the Congressional Woman of Suffrage and became a well-known orator on women's issues.  She was even arrested while petitioning Wilson's White House.  After the nineteenth amendment (which gave women the right to vote), she devoted the rest of her life to the ERA (which has never materialized).

I am always indebted to strong women such as these.  I know that I wouldn't be where I am right now without women who worked tirelessly for women's rights.  Thank you, Maud Younger!

For more information, I invite you to check out these sites:
http://www.answers.com/topic/maud-younger
http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/maud-younger/
http://www.americancivilwar.com/women/Womens_Suffrage/Maud_Younger.html

This Day in History November 14, 1889

Our person of interest today is someone I had not ever heard of before, so read on.  I think you will find it quite intriguing!

Elizabeth Jane Cochran (better known as Nellie Bly, her pseudonym) was a Pennsylvania-born pioneering female journalist.  Her early life was somewhat tumultuous, and her plan had been to become a teacher.  Finances kept her from this recognizing this dream.

In 1880, her journalism career began almost by accident when she wrote a rebuttal to a scathing article written against women choosing to have a career.  Editor George Madden was so impressed by her reply that she was offered a full-time job with the Pittsburgh Dispatch.  She refused to write the typical fashion/gardening articles that female journalists were known for at this time, and it eventually led to her resignation.

Through many adventures and misadventures, she covered many stories including a time when she feigned insanity in 1887.  After 10 deplorable days within an institution, she came out of the asylum and wrote articles that changed these conditions in New York.

On this day in 1889, she set out to break the record that Jules Verne wrote about in Around the World in 80 Days.  After a mere 72 days, she completed this assignment on January 25, 1890.  This was quite an accomplishment since she was a woman, and she traveled alone.

I invite you to read the sites I list at the end of this because the story of her life is quite fascinating.  I am grateful to pioneering women like her because after all, she showed what women can accomplish in spite of obstacles.

For more information, check out these sites:
http://www.answers.com/topic/nellie-bly
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106
http://www.nellieblyonline.com/bio

This Day in History November 1, 1848

I always believe in reporting really interesting things in women's history, and this day in history provides one of the most interesting facts in women's history in this country.  It was on this day in 1848, when the first 12 female medical students were admitted to medical school in this country.  It was Boston Female Medical College, and the picture above shows an early graduating class (1885) of that school.  These first 12 students graduated in 1850, and most of their studies focused on midwifery.

Now you might think that a woman was the one who pushed for this momentous event, but you would be wrong.  It was Samuel Gregory who recognized the need.  Why?  Because he did not agree with male doctors attending females in childbirth.  You might think this archaic, but I understand and appreciate his view.  I gave birth at home with a midwife.  The only man in the room was my then-husband.  While I would have been all right with a male doctor, if the truth be known, I still prefer a female examining me down there.

For 26 years, it operated on its own--it was renamed New England Female Medical College. It was the year after Samuel Gregory's death when it merged with Boston Medical University, thus becoming the first coed medical school worldwide.

Although this did not happen on this date in history, let me cover one very notable student from this school.

Rebecca Lee Davis Crumpler was a graduate of this school.  She became the first African American physician in this country.  She mainly treated former slaves following the Civil War.  She was not a member of the first graduating class, but she was able to become a doctor thanks to what happened on this day in history!

For more information, check out:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18891300
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_73.html
http://www.i-publicist.com/black-history-facts-rebecca-lee-crumpler/
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2006/10/02/women_doctors_their_ranks_growing_transform_medicine/
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/physicians/a/boston_medical.htm

This Day in History September 19, 1926

Well, today we delve into women's history.  I used to think that women's history was not a valid history, but several years ago when I actually decided to study it, I realized just how wrong I was.  And this story I am about to relate to you should indeed inspire and amaze you.

On this day in 1926, Lurleen Burns Wallace was born.  Okay, maybe you don't know who she is, but hopefully if you have ever studied Alabama history, you may indeed know!  I admit that I didn't know, but I certainly know now, and I am amazed.

She was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  She grew up in a working class family, and she graduated from high school when she was 15 (she took summer classes).  She then went on to work at Kresge's Five and Dime store.  It was there that she met George Wallace (who was a regular ladies man).  They married May 21, 1943 when she was just 16 (and while George was on leave from his Arkansas air base).

Following his time in the service in WWII, politics consumed his life.  Life was difficult for her as she raised three children in all sorts of places once entering public office.  When he failed to become governor in 1958, he went into depression and also had affairs.  She took her children back to her parents' home and filed for divorce.  She later withdrew the suit and returned to him.  In 1961, their final child was born.

In 1963, her husband finally become Alabama state governor.  Lurleen did well in her role of "first lady."  She opened the governor mansion to visitors seven days a week, and she refused to serve alcoholic drinks at executive mansion functions.

In 1965, Lurleen was diagnosed with utereine cancer (that had been suspected back in 1961, but her husband did not tell her).  She was treated with radiation and a hysterectomy.  During this time, her husband lost out on an Alabama bill that would have allowed a sitting governor to run for reelection.  He desperately wanted to hold onto the governor position so that he could possibly run for president.

Well, George Wallace did the absolute unthinkable.  He decided to have his wife run in his place. She did say  that her husband would continue to make the decisions if she were elected.  She did win, and she was officially inaugurated January 16, 1967.  She chose not to have a typical inaugural ball out of respect for those serving in Vietnam.

Following in her husband's footsteps, she spoke out against of desegregation in schools (her one true fault in my mind). She also pushed for mental health and state parks initiatives.  It was not long into her political career that her cancer began to return.  George continued to maintain that she had beaten cancer, but even as he tried to campaign for presidency in 1968, it was clear how ill she was.  In May of 1968, she was allowed to return home to be with her family before she passed away. She died May 9, 1968, and 21,000 mourners turned out to pay their respects.  She was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Albert Brewer.

For a lot of more information than what I shared here:
http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/g_walllu.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Lurleen_Wallace
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wallace/peopleevents/pande06.html