March 2nd

Born this day in 1803, Mother Mary Clarke, visionary in education for women. Out in Iowa there was nothing for a young woman who might want an education, and so Mother Clarke of The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary founded Clarke College in 1843.


Born this day in 1831, Metta Victoria Fuller Victor, a dime novelist! An author with many pen names. Victor is also credited with writing the first detective novel The Dead Letter Published in 1864 under the pen name, Seeley Register. Victor wrote over 100 books in her lifetime, fiction, poetry, cookbooks, short stories, mysteries, social justice novels, romance and humor. Victor was able to change style to fit the times. And like many authors of the 19th century, Victor started writing at a young age and was published by the age of 15. And though it might seem that all she did was write...no,Metta Victor was married and the mother of nine children. Yes, a modern woman of the 19th century, unheard of? Women have always been able to bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan... To learn more about Metta Victor and other dime novelist, check out this website: American Women's Dime Novelist. http://chnm.gmu.edu/dimenovels/index.htm

March 1st

On this day in 1692, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba were arrested for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. These women all died because of gossip and false babble. The state of Massachusetts formally apologised for this horror. To create fear in a community with frantic finger pointing and shreaking out landish accusations- it is always false and a means to an end that profits the those who pretend to be the victim. (Mr. Beck is an example in the 21st century, McCarthyism another in the 20t century)

On this day in 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, became 1st Black woman to receive a medical degree in the United States; graduating from the New England Female Medical College. Lee was also the first Black to publish a medical book, A Book Of Medical Discourses 1883

On this day in 1912 Isabella Goodwin, was appointed the 1st U.S. woman detective, in New York City.


On this day in 1860 Suzanna Salter, was elected the Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, making Mayor Salter the 1st U.S. female mayor.

February 28th

Born this day in 1797, Mary Lyon, visionary of higher education for women. Lyon's came from humble beginnings, a family farm in Buckland, Massachusetts, her father died and her mother re-marrying leaving Lyon's "to keep house" for her older brother-she was only 14. He paid her one dollar a week which she saved for her education. First job after attending the seminary was teaching in a one room school. But, Lyon's found her way to Byfield Seminary befriending Rev. Joseph Emerson (brother of Ralph Waldo Emerson) Rev. Emerson gave this lecture which changed Lyon's life.
'Discourse on Female Education' (1822) advocated that women should be trained to be teachers rather than "to please the other sex."
The journey began, first opening Wheaton Female Seminary(now Wheaton College) and then within two years Lyon raised over 12,000 dollars and in 1837 opened Mount Holyoke Female Seminary(known today as Mount Holyoke) both schools are in Massachusetts. Lyon served as the first president of Mt Holyoke,the first twelve years. It is also important to point out that Mary Lyon remembered where she came from and made education affordable and open to all women. To keep costs down Lyon introduced the work/study program which is used in colleges today. And her vision of women in the future was one of what we see today and so below is an example of course studies at Mt Holyoke during Lyon's time.

seven courses in the sciences and mathematics for graduation, a requirement unheard of at other female seminaries. She introduced women to "a new and unusual way" to learn science—laboratory experiments which they performed themselves. She organized field trips on which students collected rocks, plants, and specimens for lab work, and inspected geological formations and recently discovered dinosaur tracks www.mtholyoke.edu/marylyon/science.html

February 27th

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Born this day in 1850, Laura Howe Richards, author who wrote for both the old and young, and daughter of very famous good deed doers of the 19th century. Richards was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize in the category of biography; the subject just happened to her Mother, Julia Ward Howe! Whose known for writing, The Battle Hymn of the Republic Laura's father Samuel Gridley Howe, main founder of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind and Mute. One of their most famous student Laura Bridgman-(see day Dec. 21st 2010) Richards was her name sake.

Laura Richards wrote over 90 books in her lifetime and many remained in print well after her death. And Richards is the first American and woman to successfully write nonsense Tirra Lirra: Rhymes Old and New.
Eletelephony
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)

Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)

Born this day in 1818, Emma Marwedel, educator, pioneer in early childhood education, introducing kindergarten to the United States.

February 26th

Born this day in 1858, Lavinia Dock Lloyd, nurse, pioneer in nursing education, author and suffragist. Lloyd's first medical book was much needed; it listed a standard nurses manual of drugsMateria Medica for Nurses published in 1890Lloyd was also the editor to the American Journal of Nursing A History of Nursing 4 volumes. In 1893 Lloyd was one of the founders of The American Society of superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses of the United States and Canada. Retiring at the age of 50, Lloyd joined the National Women's Party led by Alice Paul and participated in the protests in front of the Whitehouse which lead to her arrest three times. Throughout her life, Lloyd never stopped educating women about their health. She was an advocate for improving working conditions, the elimination of prostitution and venereal diseases!