Famous Women

We Celebrate 10 Outstanding Women for Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, which is a celebration of the vital role of women in American history. It was first recognized by Congress in 1987. Congress continued to make the proclamation from 1988 to 1994, and beginning in 1995, each U.S. President has followed suit.

What special woman would you recognize, either from history or in your personal life, maybe a woman you work with or a friend or family member? There are so many great ladies out there that it would be hard to choose. We would love to hear from you if you would send us an email about her.

While it would be impossible to mention all of the amazing women that have contributed to the U.S. throughout history, here is a list of 10 women that we celebrate for their important efforts:

10 Outstanding Women in History

1. Mercy Otis Warren (1728 – 1814)
Warren was a political propagandist and writer during the American Revolution. Her work inspired many others to become Patriots and earned recognition from George Washington and Alexander Hamilton who famously said about her work “In the career of dramatic composition at least, female genius in the United States has outstripped the male."

2. Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906)
Anthony was an American social reformer who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. Initially, she was harshly accused of trying to destroy the institution of marriage. Perception of her radically changed during her lifetime and her 80th birthday was celebrated at the White House. She became the first female citizen to be depicted on a U.S. coin when she appeared on the dollar coin in 1979.

3. Clara Barton (1821 – 1912)
Clara was a self-taught hospital nurse during the American Civil War, who later went on to found the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross has delivered vital services to millions of people, including relief and support to those in crisis.

4. Harriet Tubman (1822 – 1913)
Tubman was an American political activist and abolitionist. Born into slavery, she escaped and is credited with having made some 13 missions along the Underground Railroad to save as many as 70 slaves, including family and friends. Later, Tubman became an important activist for the struggle for women’s suffrage.

5. Pearl S. Buck (1892 – 1973)
Pearl was an American writer and novelist who spent a great deal of her life in China and became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. After returning to the United States in 1935, Buck became a prominent advocate for the rights of women and minority groups and becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.

6. Amelia Earhart (1897 – disappeared in 1937)
Earhart was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. After setting many other records and writing best-selling books about her adventures, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over central Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

7. Ella Fitzgerald (1917 – 1996)
Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer noted for her pure tone and ability to improvise trough her scat singing. She was known as the “First Lady of Song,” “Queen of Jazz” and “Lady Ella.” Fitzgerald’s accolades include fourteen Grammy Awards, The National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Check out one of Ella’s amazing albums entitled “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book.”

8. Shirley Jackson (1916 – 1965)
Jackson was an author known for her horror and mystery works. She wrote six novels, two memoirs and more than 200 short stories over her career. Her legacy includes the Shirley Jackson Award which was established by her estate for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror and the dark fantastic.

9. Muriel F. Siebert (1928 – 2013)
Siebert was the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and the first woman to head one of the NYSE member firms, having joined the male members of the exchange in 1967. Siebert was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994.

10. Sally Ride (1951 – 2012)
Ride was an American astronaut and physicist who joined NASA to become the first American woman in space in 1983. Having done so at the age of only 32, Ride remains the youngest American astronaut to travel into space.

These are just 10 of the many, many women that have contributed to the success of the U.S. over the years. But we celebrate them and their efforts for this year’s Women’s History Month.

Read our Blog: Cheers to the Women Who Turn Talent into Business

Check out our collection of unique quality goods that are made by Women Owned businesses and support them with your purchases this Women’s History Month.

LocalWe helps people discover unique goods handmade by local Artisans and small businesses throughout the U.S. Every purchase supports good jobs and communities. We are a socially responsible business and we give back a portion of our time and profits to help kids in need to reach their full potential. We offer an alternative to buying mass produced products through the big retailers. Thanks for visiting us.