January 13th

Born this day in 1810--Ernestine Rose, an atheist-feminist, individual-feminist and abolitionist. Each label listed is a choice Ernestine made in living a life of freedom as a woman. After seeking legal redress to get out of an arranged marriage, Rose eventually chose a husband on her own. The couple immigrated to America and settled in New York City in 1836. In the same year a "married woman's act" was introduced to seek civil and property rights for married women in the State of New York. Rose wrote a petition and collected signatures in support of the new legislation. Alas, with only five signatures, the first petition did not help the doomed bill when it was voted on in the state legislatures of New York in 1838. [This was the first petition ever submitted in favor of women's rights.] Rose continued collecting signatures and submitting petitions for the next ten years and in 1849 these rights became law!

Ernestine Rose is a member of the "pantheon of great American women" which included Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth. Though lesser known than some of her contemporaries, Ernestine Rose believed in truth, justice and liberty for all.

On this day in 1972, Bernice Gera won her suit against The National Association Baseball League. In 1967, Gera entered a six week course at Florida Baseball School training for umpires. She excelled in training, but when she applied to work as an umpire Gera was rejected; stating that she did not meet the physical requirements of the job.
On June 24th, 1972, Gera umpired her first professional game. A double hitter. She resigned between games. No one would cooperate with her on the field.

On this day in 1559, Elizabeth Tudor, was crowned Queen of England. Her mother (Anne Boleyn) was the first wife that Elizabeth's father King Henry VIII had beheaded on trumped up charges of adultery (although her real crime was in not providing the king with a male heir.)

January 12th

On this day in 1912,the Lowell Mills textile workers of Lawrence, Massachusetts began to strike. The "Bread and Roses Strike". The Polish women realized their wages were cut. They stopped the looms and walked out shouting,"Short wage, short wage!". The mill owners had cut all the women and children's wages to reflect the work week (by state law)was cut by 2 hours -56 to 54 work hours. No clean water,poor diets and bad living conditions, and then the Mills held their own dangers besides the long working hours. The average lifespan of a mill worker was age 22. The owners of these mills felt the women and their children did not have the ability to hold out for a successful strike. And the cruel measures the mill owners and police used to shut the strike down worked against them. Instead, there was an outcry of support from the rest of the country and the government. On March 12th the mill owners agreed to the mill workers demands. "Bread! and Roses, too"
Meaning RESPECT.

On this day in 1874, Susan B. Anthony petitioned United States Congress for Suffrage proposal. And on this day in 1915 the Congress rejected the Suffrage proposal.

January 11th

Born this day in 1860, Marie Bashkirteff, a Russian artist who worked and lived and died way too young in Paris, Frances. Baskirteff kept a journal since the age of 13 which lead to her publishing her memoirs, "I Am the Most Interesting Book of All". It detailed the struggles of a woman artist in the 19th century. This book is still in print today. Bashirteff was a very talented visual artist(paintings above self-protrait and artist's studio.) Sadly, she died at the age of 25 of tuberculosis. An artist, a feminist, a intellectual powerhouse, who lived long enough carve out her part in the arts in Paris in the 1880's.

On this day in 1928, Amelia Earhart began a record breaking flight from Honolulu to California.

January 10th

Born this day in 1870, Maud Younger. One of the flamboyant personalities of the Women's Suffrage Movement. Well educated and born wealthy, Younger used her life style to better the lives of other women and children. She worked at the "New York Settlement House" for five years. Younger worked to help unionize the waitresses of California. Which gave her the nick name "Millionaire Waitress". Younger was tapped by Alice Paul, president of the "National Women's Party"; with offices in Washington DC, Paul wanted to involve the wives of the politicians to help the cause of Women's Suffrage. And Younger's connections were very valuable. Also her talents in bridging the gap between the different groups of women. After, the 19th Amendment was voted into law in 1920; Younger continued work for union rights and human rights, and the Women's Party. Younger's last cause, "The Equal Rights Amendment".... As of today this amendment has not passed into law. ERA. Heard of it?

Born this day in 1820, actress and theatre owner, Louisa Lane Drew. Yes, Drew Barrymore's Great-Great-Grandmother!

January 9th

Born this day in 1941, Joan Baez. A woman who became the voice of the folk coffee house peace movement of the 1960's and 1970's. If you have not heard any of Baez's music go to youtube and listen. Powerful. Two of my favorites, "Diamonds and Rust" and "Blowing In The Wind". Happy Birthday, Joan Baez and thank you.

Born this day in 1859, one of the great American Suffragist, Carrie Chapman Catt.
Susan B. Anthony selected Catt to succeed her as President of National American Women's Association. (NAWSA) Catt served two terms as president. During her presidency in 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment passed into law. Catt was also the founder of "The League of Women Voters" and "The International Alliance of Women"
Catt spent most of her life traveling throughout the United States, leading campaigns,giving countless speeches and educating women about their rights; Catt lived to see the dream that Anthony and her colleagues only hoped would be the future of Amercian women and all women. The Right to Vote and have a voice in this world.