"One cannot consent to creep
when one has an impulse to
soar."
~Helen Keller

Anna Julia Cooper born this day
in 1858. A scholar, social activisit,
college president, and writer. The
first African-American Feminist, Ms.
Cooper first book published in 1892,
"A Voice from the South by a Black
Woman of the South." She called
for social change; a fledgling feminsit
movement did little for their minority
women. Ms. Cooper was born into
slavery and lived to see the birth
of the Civil Rights Movement.

This day in 1993 Ruth Bader Ginsburg
was sworn in to serve on the Supreme
Court.

"It is our duty to make this world a better
place for women."
~Christable Pankhurst

Mary Randolph Randolph born this day
in 1762. Author of , "The Virginia House-
wife." First published in 1824, it is rarely
out print. It is not only a cookbook, but a
history book of early Amercian manners
and dining.

Anna Peck Sill born this day in 1816.
Founder of Rockford College for Women.
In 1847 she started teaching in an old
downtown courthouse, with few students
and the only teacher- she stood by her
dream of education of women.

Janie Porter Barrett born this day in 1865.
A welfare worker and educator Ms. Barrett
founded The Locust Street Social Settlement
in 1890 in Norfolk, Va. It helped poor women,
through education, job skills training and educating
their children. In 1908, she founded the Va. Federation
of Colored Women's Club. In 1914, with the help
of Mary Cooke-Branch Mumford and Maggie Lena
Walker, a farm was purchased in Hanover County
Va. It provided a safe house, medical care, job
training for unmarried women of color and for
their children. In 1948, the General Assembly of
Va. named the Hanover County School in honor
of Ms Barrett.

This day in 1956 the women of South Africa
protested the "pass law" also known as the
dompas. It was the most despised symbols
of apartheid.

"Girls and women who are denied access
to education, information, and real forms
of economics, social and political part-
ticipation are particulary vulnerable.
Some political regimes favor vaccination
of young boys over young girls. It is totally
unacceptable and we need to speak out
against such practices." Dec. 8th, 1998
~Gro Harlem Brundtland

Mary Gove Nichols, born this day in 1810;
a victim of emotional and sexual abuse at
the hands of her first husband. Ms. Nichols
made it her life's work to ensure/inform all
women about their bodies. A national figure
1840-50's Ms. Nichols traveled the country
giving lectures to thousands of women
discussing, in detail, their needs and desires.
Demanding women have rights over their
bodies. She believed in equality in marriage,
free love, hydro-therpapy and the importance
of happiness.

Esther McQuigg Slack Morris born this day in
1814. A suffragist Ms. Morris organized the
Movement in the Wyoming Territory,- lead to
the passage of such law allowing married
women to own and control their property.
Equal pay for women teachers. She was
the first woman Justice of the Peace in
the United States- appointed in 1870.

Sara Teasdale born this day in 1884. A
poet, she won the Columbia Unversity
Poetry Society Prize for 'Love Songs' in
1918.

Marjoire Kinnan Rawlings born this day in
1896. Won the Pulitzer in 1939 for her
well loved book, "The Yearling". Professor
at the Universtiy of Flordia in creative writing.

Svetlana Savitskaya born this day in 1948.
The second woman in space and the first
woman to walk in space, July 25th, 1984.
Two time winner of the Hero fo the Soviet
Union.

"My concerns has always been for the people
who are victimized, unable to speak for them-
selves and who need outside help."
~Joan Baez

Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis born this day in
1813 spend the early part of her career in the
study of medicine- she took this knowledge and
gave lectures on anatomy and physiology to women.
Ms. Davis traveled throughout the United States
teaching and urging women to become physicians.
In 1850, she focused her energies on National
Women Rights. Going on to become editor of
"The Una", first women's newspaper. And writing
the book, "The History of the National Woman's
Rights Movement" in 1870.

Bessie Locke born this day in 1865 is best known
as organizer and founder of the National Kindergarten
Assoication in 1911. Ms. Locke spent her life promoting
early education throughout the United States. Her writings
of a series of articles on "Home-education", made her
name internationally known.

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn born this day in 1890; her family
were socialists. Ms. Flynn gave her first speech, entitled,
"What Socialism Will Do for Women", at the Harlem Socialist
Club. She was kicked out of high school for it. Known as the
East Side Joan of Arc, she fought for workers rights. Arrested
10 times during WWI. A founding memeber of the American
Civil Liberties Union. Ms. Flynn joined the communist party in
1936. During WWII she fought for equal pay and rights for
women and the estabishment of day care centers. Ran for
Congress in 1946 and in was imprisoned in June of 1951
for her beliefs. In 1955 she published the book, "The Alderson
Story; My Life as a Political Prisoner".

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is
also full of the overcoming of it."
~Helen Keller

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1902, Regina
Jonas was the first female Rabbi. After
completing her studies- she wrote, "Can
a Woman be a Rabbi According to
Halachic Sources?" The answer was-yes.
Ordained in 1935. As the Nazi came to
power many rabbis chose to immigrate- ironically giving 
 Rabbi Jonas more opportunity's  to preach in the
synagogues Berlin. She was arrested in 1942- and
deported to "Theresienstadt". Jonas works
meeting the trains and giving hope and
courage to those entering the camps. She
wrote and preached 24 lectures. At age 42
Rabbi Jonas was murdered in Asuchwitz.

Born this day in 1905, founder of the "Gray
Panthers", Maggie Kuhn. Considered by
may to have started a contemporary culture
revolution- she redefined the meaning of age
and her battle cry,"young and old together."
Ms. Kuhn brought forward the social issues
of the elderly.

Born this day in 1923, Anne Klein, founder
of the label Anne Klein. She defined
the American women style of the 1960's
and though Anne Klein died suddenly in
1969 her company is still at the top of
fashion world today.

Martha Stewart was born this day in 1941.
Founder of Ominimedia, Ms. Stewart one
of the most well known business women
of our time. She has television, radio,
magazines, and books all in the service
of home and hospitality.