January 27th

On this day in 1996, Catherine Roskam becomes the 1st female Episcopal Bishop in New York.

On this day in 1964, Margaret Chase Smith, tried for the Republican bid.

Born this day in 1934, Edith Cresson, the first and still the only woman Prime Minster of France from May 15, 1991 to April 2, 1992. Less than a year, the shortest term on record. Cresson is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders
www.cwwl.org

January 26th

Born this day in 1893,Dr. Wu Yi Fang, The first woman of China to receive and hold accredited Bachelors of Art degree. In the Fall of 1915, Ginling College opened their doors. The first school of higher learning for women that the Chinese government approved. Dr. Fang went on to be the President of Ginling College. To read more about this amazing woman click and read!
sophia.smith.edu/blog/smithipedia/.../ginling-college-and-wu-yi-fang/

Born this day in 1831, Mary Mapes Dodge, editor and writer of children's literature.
Dodge wrote the famous children's book, Hans Brinker or the Silver SkatesShe went on to work as associate editor of Hearth and Home, edited by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Editing the household department and the children's stories.

January 25th

Born this day in 1933, Maria Corazon Aquino, one of the most remarkable women of the 20th century. Time magazine called her Woman of The Year in 1986. Her story as a world leader begins with a tragedy. Married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., who was a very strong critic of President Ferdinand Marcos, a dictator ruling over the Philippines. Senator Aquino returned from a three year exile in the United States and was assassinated in 1983.
An unlikely leader, Aquino stepped into the place of her husband. Becoming a leader against the Marcos regime. Marco tried to steal the election by calling Marshall law and declaring himself the winner. Aquino stood up and demanded justice and lead her country People Power Revolution in 1986. It brought the Marcos regime down and Aquino restored democracy to her country. It was not an easy road to follow but she did with compassion, intelligence and courage.

This is for the romantics. On this day in 1858 Princess Victoria (daughter of Queen Victoria) married the crown Prince of Prussia and as the Princess walked down the aisle, Mendelssohn's played the "Wedding March" for the first time. And a tradition was born.

On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth addresses, the 1st Black Women's Rights Convention.

January 24th

Born this day in 1888, Hedwig "Vicki" Baum, who is considered the first contemporary "bestselling" author. While working in Berlin, Germany as an editor, Baum wrote and published her first novel, translated "People in a Hotel" published in 1929. It was a huge success. So much so, Baum was invited to Hollywood to adapt it into a screenplay.
Which it became the academy award winning film "Grand Hotel", yes that film. Greta Grabo says, "I want to be alone..." Baum wrote that famous line! She wrote more than fifty novels in her life time and ten of them were adapted into films.

Born this day in 1850, Mary Murfree or Charles Egbert Craddock. Murfree wrote novels and short stories based on Appalachia she grew up with in her childhood. Murfree choose to use a man's name as her pen, to be taken seriously. She wrote for the Atlantic Monthly for seven before revealing her true nature. Murfree's work is considered the first Appalachian literature written from a woman's point of view even if it began as a man's. I wonder....

January 23rd

On this day in 1870, one hundred and seventy three Blackfoot women and children were mascaraed in Montana by the United States Army.


Born this day in 1838, Marianne of Molokai. Mother Marianne, co-founded the first two Catholic Hospitals in the United States, from 1870-77. Which prepared Mother Marianne for a letter that changed Mother Marianne's life. King David Kalākaua, for her help in Honolulu, to work with those suffering from Hansen's disease, leprosy. Below is Mother Marianne's response:

I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen Ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders... I am not afraid of any disease, hence it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned ‘lepers

And so in 1883 with six other sisters, they set sail for Hawaii. And Mother Marianne spent the rest of her life working with Islanders who suffered with leprosy. Even with her very close contact with those suffering with leprosy,Mother Marianne never contracted it. On May 5th 2005, Mother Marianne was beatified by Pope Benedict IV.

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