January 22nd

Born this day in 1858, Beatrice Potter Webb, an economist, sociologist and an advocate for change for the poor and working class of Great Britain in the 19th and early 20th century. Webb's work is responsible for laws that helped change the conditions of the plight in the slums of the poor and working class. Beatrice married Sidney James Webb, who also shared in her vision of changing the conditions of the poor. Together, their research and publications educated and truly created a better world those whose economic needs that were so misunderstood. Webb's first published The Cooperative Movement in Great Britain before meeting her husband. The Webb's founded, "The London School of Economics and Political Science in 1895. Edith Abbott who took one of the Webb's classes titled it "Methods of Social Investigation". Together they also published The History of Trade Unionism and Industrial Democracy Beatrice Potter was a woman who was born to great wealth and privilege. But choose to use her means to make the Halls of Justice understand the problems of those with no voice at all. And we all deserve a voice and to make a better place for all.

On this day in 1881, Cleopatra's Needle was erected in New York City's Central Park.

January 21th

Born this day in 1804, Eliza Roxcy Snow Smith. As a young woman, Snow was a well regarded poet. She was baptized Mormon in 1835 and followed the Mormons across the United States finally settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1845, she married Joseph Smith,Jr. as a plural wife. But, after his assassination, Snow married Brigham Young, as a plural wife. This marriage was one of convenience since she was a Church leader in the Mormon faith. Joseph Smith remained her one true love.
Snow's poetry religious in nature, was set to music and is a staple in the Mormon Hymnal.

Born this day in 1853,Helen Hamilton Gardener. A provocative writer of her time, Gardener's work raised awareness of the social justice issues of the day. She wrote and published books, pamphlets, articles from 1885 to 1900. One of her more popular writings, Sex In Brain 1888; it was a rebuttal to this statement by a prominent physician who declared "...women's brains were inferior to men's brains because they were smaller." In 1920, President Wilson appointed Gardener to United States Civil Service Commission, she was the first woman to hold a high office in the U.S. government.
From Men,Women, and Gods "Nothing gives me more pleasure, nothing gives greater promise for the future, than the fact that woman is achieving intellectual and physical liberty. It is refreshing to know that here, in our country, there are
thousands of women who think and express their own thoughts--who are thoroughly free and thoroughly conscientious--who have neither been narrowed nor corrupted by a heartless creed--who do not worship a being in heaven whom they would shudderingly loathe on earth. Women who do not stand before the altar of a cruel faith with downcast eyes of timid acquiescence, and pay to impudent authority the tribute of a thoughtless yes. They are no longer satisfied with being told. They examine for
themselves. They have ceased to be the prisoners of society--the satisfied serfs of husbands or the echoes of priests. They demand the rights that naturally belong to intelligent human beings. If wives, they wish to be the equals of husbands--if mothers, they wish to rear their children in the atmosphere of love, liberty and philosophy. They believe that woman can discharge all her duties without the aid of superstition,and preserve all that is true, pure and tender without sacrificing in
the temple of absurdity the convictions of the soul."

In 1908 New York outlawed smoking by women.

Another Snow was born this day in 1922. Jade Snow Wong. A ceramic artist and biographer. Her ceramic work was visionary capturing the pure lines of modernism in clay and enameling. Wong autobiography, Fifth Chinese Daughter was published in 1950.

January 20th

Born this day in 1877, Ruth St. Denis, a pioneer of American Modern Dance. Co-founder of "Denishawn Dance Company" with husband, Ted Shawn. Their students read like a "who's who of modern dance", Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, and Dois Humphreys to name drop a few. St. Denis popularized modern dance as a performing art. She also helped create the first dance program in the United States in 1938 at Adelphi University. St. Denis began her career as a Dime Dancer(slang leg dancers) and Vaudevillein 1892. With the dawn of a new century beginning, St. Denis concepts of modern dance were influenced by the Eastern tradition of dance, Indian, Egyptian, Japanese, Mythology and Mysticism. One of her more famous dance, Radha was based in Indian culture,it was also known as The Dance of the Five Senses .(as seen in the above photographs) Ruth St. Denis was an amazing artist. She was inducted into the National Museum of Dance, C. V. Whitney Hall Of Fame in 1987.

On this day in 1949, J. Edgar Hoover gave Shirley Temple a tear gas fountain pen!

On this day in 1869, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, became the first woman to testify before Congress. (A leader in the Suffrage Movement)

January 19th

Born this day in 1897, Winifred Shaugnessy, who became, Natacha Rambova. Ballet dancer, set designer, costume designer for stage and film and...she was Rudolph Valentino's second wife! As a set and costume designer, she was an innovator, bringing Art Deco,and Nouveau to Hollywood with her style. Rambova worked on over 15 films all during the silent film era, to name a few titles Salome, A Doll's House, and The Woman God Forgot. Rambova's work is amazing and she was beautiful, no wonder the silent film idol fell in love with this talented beauty. But, the marriage didn't last Rambova wanted to control Valentino's film career by getting him to turn down the screen idol characters. Oh well.

On this day in 1966, Indira Gandhi was elected Prime Minster of India. Gandhi remained Prime Minster until 1977 and then re-elected in 1980 to the office again and remained until her assassination in October 1984. Gandhi was the longest term female Prime Minster in the world. She changed the face of India.

January 18th

Born this day in 1898, not October 18th,1900. Austrian actor Lotte Lenya. Best known for her collaboration with husband Kurt Weill in which she created the role Jenny Diver in "The Threepenny Opera" or" The Beggar's Opera" this role won her the Tony in 1956. Lenya worked in film creating many memorable roles like the female Bond villain in,"From Russia With Love" Lenya was also nominated for best supporting female actor, "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone".
Listen to the voice, Lotte Lenya.

On this day in 293, Saint Susanna, Saint Thecla, and Saint Archelais, three young girls who fled Nola, Italy to escape persecution of their faith. They were captured, arrested, tortured and then beheaded in the city of Salerno, Itlay

January 17th

Happy Birthday, First Lady Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama!

Born this day in 1814, English author, Ellen Price Wood. Wood began her career by writing stories for the magazines, Bentley's Miscellany and Colburn's. East Lynne was Wood's first novel, published in 1861. To say this novel was successful would be an understatement. It was translated into many languages and Leo Tolstoy journaled ,"Reading Mrs. Wood's wonderful novel In The Maze." The novel was adapted to the stage at least nine times and a 1931 screen adaptation was nominated for Best Picture that year. Wood wrote over 30 novels in her lifetime. In 1867, she launched the magazine Argosy. Wood used this publication to introduce new stories for which her public hungered. Wood remained editor of Argosy until her death in 1887.

This is the final paragraph of Mrs. Wood's obituary as it appeared in The Times:
"Of late years Mrs. Wood's health had been somewhat precarious, and she led a very retired life, almost restricted to the intercourse of intimate friends or relations. A sharp attack of bronchitis during the severe weather that followed Christmas completely prostrated her, and nothing but her indomitable will and natural energy permitted hope of her recovery. The sudden change at the beginning of the week was fatal to her, and she passed away about 4 o'clock on Thursday morning. Mrs Wood leaves behind her several sons, one of whom inherits the literary tendencies of his mother, and a daughter. Mrs. Wood's pen was active up to the last, and we believe that among her papers are two complete unpublished stories."

Now, to find her lesser-known novels or stage a new production of East Lynne!

Born this day in 1922, the grand and glorious actor, Betty White! We know her work from the television series, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" during the 1970's to "The Golden Girls" of the 1980's and in May of 2010, at age 88, White hosted "Saturday Night Live"; their oldest host to date. It would remiss to not mention White's advocacy for animals. So Happy Birthday, Betty White. Thank you!

January 16th

Born this day in 1932, Dian Fossey. A primatologist. Fossey's study of gorillas changed our perception of primates. She observed gorillas in their environment and it was her life mission to save these amazing beings. Fossey was fierce in her protection of the gorillas. In 1985, Fossey was brutally murdered in the same way that her beloved gorillas were killed for trade. Go to www.gorillafund.org for more information about Dian Fossey and to find out how to help adopt a "gorilla in the mist." Let us be humble, and always in awe of those beings so perfect. Let us help protect all of "Mother Herth."

On this day in 2005, at age 66, Adriana Ilieseu became the oldest woman to give birth.