January 7th

Born this day in 1957, the current news anchor and managing editor for CBS Evening News, Katie Couric. Happy Birthday, Katie!

Published on this day in 1896, "The Fanny Farmer Cook Book", except the original title was, "The Boston Cooking-School Book." Fanny Farmer was the author's name. Farmer's cook book was important to the history of cookery for the fact it standardized measurements of cups and spoons. It also emphasised the science of cooking both in the chemistry and in the dietary science. The importance of cooking healthy meals for the family. Fanny Farmer's Cookbook is still in print today.

January 6th

Born this day in 1794, Rebecca Lukens. Lukens inherited her family's Brandywine Iron Mills and turned this business into one of the most successful steel works in US history.
Making boilerplates and track for the nation's growing railways.
Rebecca Lukens is believed to the first woman to head a industrial company in the United States. Lukens was inducted into the Fortune 500 magazine's National Industrial Business List Hall of Fame,in 1982. Coming in at #395. And yes, Ms. Lukens was married (her husband was a physician) and they had a family. Oh, her husband supported Lukens great head for business.

January 5th

Born this day in 1835, Olympia Brown. Brown was the first woman to be a fully ordained minster. The journey was not an easy one. Educated at a time when even the colleges that were enrolling women still considered them of sub-intelligence to men. An example being, it was mandatory for the male students to memorize their speeches, whereas the female students did not because "they did not have the intelligence or ability." Brown memorized everything! And this was at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary! From Holyoke, she continued her studies at Antioch College; during this time Brown felt her calling was to be a minster. After many rejections-finally, Theological College of Saint Lawrence accepted her. Again, when it came time to ordinate Ms. Brown; she was turned down. Olympia did not give up and asked for equality and to be ordained and for her colleagues to listen to her sermons. They did. And on June 25 1863, Olympia Brown became a fully ordained minster. Brown also married and raised two children and worked as a full time minster. She was also very active in the suffrage movement. Brown was an example of where and who women were becoming in the future society of the 20th century. And let her example continue to inspire women in the 21st century.

January 4th

On this day in 1977, Mary Shane, was hired by the Chicago White Sox as their "play-by-play" Television announcer. And yes, the first woman to perform this job!

On this day in 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House, by a vote of 233-202. Becoming the first female to perform this job.

On this day in 1939, Frieda Wunderlich was elected first woman Dean of Graduate Studies at New School for Social Research. Actually she was the only female professor at the New School.

And on this day in 1759, the composer, Maria Rosa Coccia was born. And, yes, at age 16, Coccia was the first woman to pass a very "severe" examination at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy. Oh, Saint Cecilia is the Patron Saint of Music.

Alot of "first woman" today!

January 3rd

Born this day in 1950, Beth Anderson, an American composer in the neo-romantic genre. Anderson invented, swales. "Swales are a musical form based on collages, samples of newly composed music vs. existing music." www.beand.com

On this day in 1988, Margaret Thatcher became the longest serving Prime Minster of the 20th century.