February 16th

On this day in 1883, The Ladies Home Journal first issue. Louisa Knapp Curtis was the editor and writer. And the first title was, The Ladies Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper The last three words were dropped in 1886. Still in publication today. This magazine is one of the Seven Sisters.

On this day in 1982, Agatha Barbara was elected President of Malta.

1838 Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions (But what were the conditions??) Still a mystery-on the hunt; but if you know please leave a comment.

February 15th

Born this day in 1820, Susan B. Anthony. The Mother of the Suffrage Movement in the United States. Anthony died in 1906, and the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1920. To read more about Anthony visit, www.susanbanthonyhouse.org

On this day in 1879, President Hayes signed the bill allowing women lawyers to argue cases before the Supreme Court. (remember, in 1873, the Supreme Court ruled women incapable of being lawyers- it went against their nature! see Feb. 12th entry)

February 14th

On this day in 1920, the League of Women voters was founded.

Born this day in 1838, Margaret E. Knight, an inventor of the 19th century. You know that paper bag that is carrying your lunch, groceries...well the fold of the paper bag and way it is glued on the bottom was invented by Knight in 1868! She worked most of her life in the cotton mills. While fitting the model for the patent, Charles Annan stole the idea. But a successful law suit and Knight founded the Eastern Paper Bag Company. Other inventions included, a numbering machine, window frame and sash and several devices relating to rotary engines. Margaret Knight was the holder of 87 U.S.patents.

Born this day in 1871, Marion Mahony (Griffin),one of the first women to be licensed architect in the world. Mahony graduated from MIT in 1894 and began her career working briefly with her cousin Dwight Perkins and then with Frank Lloyd Wright for the next 14 years. One of the original members of the Prairie School. During this time Mahony designed murals, mosaics, furniture, leaded glass, and lighting fixtures. Wright consider Mahony one of the best architects on his team. Mahony voice in home design still echos today. (examples above)

February 13th

On this day in 1969 Mary Hopkin's first album Postcard was released by Apple Records, Paul McCartney producer. Hopkin's is most famous for her song, Those Were The Days Hopkin has continued her career and most recently in 2010,with collaborations with her children. With daughter Jessica Lee Morgan, the release of her first CD called,I Am not. And in October 2010 with her son Morgan Visconti the release of, You Look Familiar.

Born this day in 1894, Mary Lucinda Cardwell Dawson, founder of the, The National Negro Opera Company, in 1941. Dawson used her home for the residence of her company. 7101 Apple Street, Pittsburgh, PA. The company produced Faust, La Traviata, and Clarence,Cameron White's Ouanga. Robert Nathaniel Dett's The Ordering of Moses and many more. The company had many chapters throughout the United States, but with Dawson's death in 1962, the National Negro Opera Company closed.

On this day in 1943, the Women's Marie Corps was founded. www.militarywoman.org

On this day in 1907, the British Suffragettes stormed Parliament,and 60 women were arrested.

Cathrine Howard was beheaded this day in 1542, one of King Henry VIII wives

February 12th

Born this day in 1831, Myra Colby Bradwell. Bradwell fought for the rights of women to be practicing lawyers in the United States. All the way to the Supreme Court.

On August 2, 1869 Myra Bradwell passed the Illinois bar exam. After being denied admission to the Illinois Bar, she filed suit, reaching the United States Supreme Court, claiming that refusing to admit her to the bar because she was female violated her 14th Amendment rights. The Supreme Court held that the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not include the right to practice a profession. Justice Joseph Bradley wrote: “The natural and proper timidity and delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life...[T]he paramount destiny and mission of woman are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother. This is the law of the Creator." Bradwell v. Illinois, 83 U.S. (16 Wall.) 130 (1873).

And then in 1872, the state of Illinois “No person shall be precluded or debarred from any occupation, profession, or employment (except the military) on account of gender." Bradwell was a practicing lawyer for two years before her death.
It must be noted, women in the United States are not protected under the Constitution.