March 4th

Born this day in 1773, Frances Slocum or Maconaquah (The Young Bear). Maconaquah's biological family, the Slocum's' were part of the Quaker settlement in Wyoming, Pennsylvania. On November 2,1778, during the Battle of Wyoming, Maconaquah at the age of 5, was captured by the Lenape tribe. It is believed that the first night of capture, Maconaquah escaped and found by the Miami Tribe which became her adopted family. 59 years later, her biological brother found her on an Indian Reservation near Peru, Indiana. Maconaquah refused to leave with them; to leave her family of the last 59 years..., being married twice with four children, this was her home and her life. There are many schools, parks, and even a bank named after Maconaquah.


Born this day in 1815, Myrtilla Miner, educator. Miner began teaching at the age of fifteen in home state of New York. Miner was later hired to teach in Whitesville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi for a planter's daughter. It was there that Miner found her calling. As witness to the evils of slavery, Miner knew she would dedicate her life to improving their lives. With the gift of one hundred dollars, on December 3rd, 1851 Miner and six students opened Normal School For Colored Girls in Washington DC, tution was free. It was an apartment and by the second month, there were 40 students. By 1853, a permanent location was found and with the benefactor Harriet Beecher Stowe, donating the proceeds from Uncle Tom's Cabin, of 81,000, the school's
success was sealed. Today the name is the University of the District of Columbia.

On this day in 1933 Frances Perkins, was the first woman appointed to serve on the president's cabinet as Secretary of Labor.

March 3

On this day in 1913, there was a parade in Washington DC in support of the woman's suffrage 8,000 marched that day. Sadly, mobs formed to harm and stop the parade by using violence, and even though Alice Paul had a permit and supposedly protection from the police. The police did nothing to stop them. 200 were injured and Army troops were brought in to stop the mobs. The outcry from the public in support for the women's suffrage and against the police for allowing such violence. Ended with the chief of police fired. And DC setting up a committee to investigate. And the subject of women's suffrage was back in the public mind with support. And the beginning of the Suffragette's movement in the United States. (do you know there are two different points of view as to how gain women the right to vote. suffragette: uses a more demanding, aggressive actions for right to vote. suffragist: a person who asks for the right to vote.
Reminder: March 8th is the 100 year anniversary of International Woman's Day.

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