December 14th

On this day in 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the "President's Commission on the Status of Women." Executive Order 10980. Resulted in the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This stated American women still are paid less than men.
President Obama has taken up the cause and on December 10th, 2010. Please read the following: www.whitehouse.gov/issues/women

The National Press Club of Washington D.C., on this day in 1971 voted to admit women to their membership. After excluding them since their foundation March 12, 1908.

Wilma P. Mankiller was sworn in as the first woman tribal chief of the Cherokee Nation; on this day in 1985 and served until 1995.

December 13th

Mary Todd Lincoln was born this day in 1818. The 16th First Lady of the United States, yes, married to President Abraham Lincoln. As a young woman Mrs. Lincoln was smart, bright, passionate, fun loving and with a strong interest in politics. She was courted by many- but Lincoln was the one. The early years in Illnois, raising a growing family as Lincoln worked as a lawyer that lead to his political career which Mary supported. Their time in Office was during one of the most difficult times in the USA history. The Civil War, divided the country and families. Brother fighting brother. And Mary Todd's family was no exception. Though much of her family was Confederate- Mary supported and believed her husband's view.
Mary Todd Lincoln, lived with loss, of three of her children, brothers during the Civil War and then the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Mary was sitting next to her husband when he was murdered and she walked with him to a room across the street from the Ford's theatre, she stayed with Lincoln until he died early the next morning. Mary Todd Lincoln was considered unstable and depressed. But, not without reason.

December 12th

Born this day in 1869, American playwright and producer, Rachel Crothers. Ms. Crothers plays revolved around the issues of the 20th century woman. Her play's dialogue was known for sounding real and honest, be it a comedy or drama. "The Three of Us" was her first big success. And Crothers wrote and produced about a play a year. Howard Taubman wrote,"..used the stage to articulatethe case forwoman's freedom. Battle won-she did not shrink from poking fun at theliberated woman's pretensions." She was also known for helping to found "The American Theatre Wing" and many other relief programs. In 1939 Crothers was awarded the "Chi Omega" Elanore Roosevelt presented the gold medal. Crother's career spanded from 1903-1949.

December 11th

Annie Jump Cannon, born this day in 1863. Astronomer, theorist, first woman to receive a Honorary doctorate from Oxford University,and the first woman elected to the American Astronomial Society.
In 1896, Edward Charles Pickering hired Ms. Cannon to help complete the Draper Catalog which was "mapping and defining the stellar Heavens." Cataloging the photographic stars by temperature to 9.
Early on in the project there was disagreement on how to go about the cataloging. One system was too complex and the other simpler. Annie Cannon stepped in and created a third system which included ideas from both. "OBAFG--KM" Which they remember with the mnemonic. "Oh, Be A Fine Girl--Kiss Me!" And this system is still in use today. "O" being the hottest and "M" the coolest temperature.
Ms. Cannon, discovered 300 stars in her career. Nick name: "Cenus Taker of the Sky Society" She classified 230,000 stellar bodies. No one has topped it.

December 10th

Born this day in 1815, Lady Ada Byron Lovelace, daughter of the great poet, Lord Byron and she is also the very first computer programmer! Ada was tutored in math and music because her mother did not want her daughter follow in her famous father's very romantic and poetic footsteps.
At age 13, Ada designed a flying machine.
Ada considered herself, a Metaphysician and Analyst. She is the founder of SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING. While translating Charles Babbage's lectures about the Analyic Engine(these lectures took place at the University of Turin, Italy in 1840- Luigi Menabrea wrote them down and had them published in the Universelle de Geneve in 1842)
In 1842 Ada Byron translated the lectures from French to English. And while doing this Lady Lovelace made "NOTES", her very own ideas and calulations. These NOTES contain the very first ALGORITHM and the structure for the very first computer. Ada wrote out in these much of what a computer could be used for- including music! 110 years ahead of her time. Please, google Ada Byron Lovelace NOTES and read about this awesome woman's vision. Lady Lovelace, the bluestocking,the scientist, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, wife of Lord Lovelace and the mother of 3. A visionany of how computers-engines would change the future. Modern Science.



And born this day in 1830, the great and wonderous poet, Emily Dickinson! Another visionary that wrote in future ideas. Modern poetry.


Poem  314

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

Two very modern women.