March 19th

Born this day in 1850, Alice French, author- penn name Octave Thanet. During the Victorian times that French lived in, women were making great strides in higher education which then lead to careers outside the home, such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, professors in colleges, authors, designers,military- pick a field and there were women working in it. And of course at the core women's suffrage movement was in full swing, along with other social justice issues of the day such as, Unions in the factories that protected workers and removed children out of the dangerous factories as we know, but maybe need to remember today.
But, in all things, there is the other side of the coin. The concept of this "Ideal Woman" in Victorian times, was one a homemaker and mother never venturing outside the realm of home or she did it was a woman's club. But, to be in a business of any kind was deemed very unwomanly.
Now, our birthday author today, Alice French , was indeed a business woman who wrote under a penn name of a man, Octave Thanet from 1878 to 1913. French's short stories were published in magazines for women which appealed to the homemaker; her novels portrayed the "Ideal Woman", one like stated above unable to cope in the business world. BUT, French did! Pretending to be a man Ms. French was able to hid her business from the world and could be viewed as a lady- all in frills and gentle. BUT, she wasn't! French was a working business woman, who because of using a male name was paid what a man was paid.
So as the women of world were standing up for equal pay and suffrage, there were also women like Alice French, who promoted the Victorian standard of woman, while all along profiting at their expense. A double standard.
And if French had been honest with her public, she might not have ended her life in obscurity. French was against the issues of the day, that helped the working class and their children who were slaving away in the factories or actually in slavery.
And her advice to young female writers was to learn to cook not write.


Born this day in 1881, Edith Nourse Rogers,Congresswoman, from 1925–1960, as Republican from Massachusetts. Rogers still holds the record for serving the longest in congress for women.


Born this day in 1868, Senda Berenson Abbott, pioneer women's basketball.
In 1899, Berenson wrote a modified te rules of men's basketball for women. And wrote the Basketball Guide for Women (1901-07)
Inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in July 1, 1985; International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987; the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.





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March 18th

Born this day in 1840, Marilla Marks Richers, lawyer. Again, in a time when common knowledge believed there were no female lawyers, but here in the history of women, we have Richers. Raised in a family of "free thinkers" in New Durham, NH. Marrying a wealthy farmer who then died, leaving Richers a wealthy widow. Richers traveled and stayed in Germany to master the language. Returning to the United States, Richer settled in Washington DC to study law. And in 1882, she took the bar with 18 men and she outranked them all. Richer's career in law was outstanding and for many reasons; in terms of social justice,known as "the prisoner's friend" she understood that many prisoners were there because of lack of funds for a good lawyer and fines that filled the prison with people who were not criminals, but poor. Visiting the prisons, taking on cases,applying for releases and if Richer could not be present for the trial she would pay for proper counsel. To handing out reading materials and other comforts. Taking on the "Poor Convicts Act" proving the fines were illegal.
1884: Appointed examiner in chancery by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia and U.S. Commissioner in which Richer heard many cases.
1890: Opened New Hampshire bar to women when she was admitted to the bar of the state.
1891: Admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
1910: Ran for governor of New Hampshire.
And of course, a life member of the National Suffrage Association. Served as Vice president at large of the National Legislative League and president for the state of New Hampshire.
And as an author, Richer published several "free thought" books: "The Four Gospels," (1911); "I Don’t Know, Do You?" (1915); and "I Am Not Afraid, Are You?" (1917).And like her name Marilla Richer lead a rich life.

March 17th

Born this day in 1846 or 1848, Clara Morris, an American Actress. At a time when most actors used a stylized approach to the characters they portrayed, whereas Morris was a "Method" actor. Emotional, honest and very believable. Morris began her career in Ohio, her mother a single parent- Morris was a child actor. The move to New York City came when she accepted an offer to join the Daly Theatre Company. In the Fall of 1870, Morris first play a comedy Man and Wife The New York Herold wrote of her debut at the Fifth Avenue Theatre:

Miss Clara Morris, a young actress from the West, made her first appearance at this theatre and achieved a success of the most unqualified kind. Her appearance is exceedingly engaging, her action evinces large experience in the stage, and she invested the character with rare delicacy, tenderness, dignity and all the varied qualities it demanded

Morris worked most of her life as an actor and she did marry in 1874. Morris was also a published author and wrote several books from 1885 until 1910. In 1901, Morris wrote Life on the Stage: My Personal Experiences and Recollections Sadly,in 1911, Morris lost her sight and lived in blindness until her death in 1925.

March 16th

Born this day in 1750, Caroline Herschel, astronomer credited with discovery of 7 comets and other Light in the night sky. Herschel's story to the stars is extraordinary ,one the time in history that she lived and two because of her physical appearance. At the age of ten, Caroline contracted typhus which stunned her growth- she never grew taller than 4' 3" and so her father assumed she would never marry and her mother trained her to be a servant which began with her own family home. Like a Cinderella story.  All six of the children were taught music and math and french, but not Caroline she was a servant. Her father did in secret train his daughter in music and she had a beautiful voice. Her father died and Caroline was a servant...until her brother William who was hired as a music director in Bath, England asked if Caroline would like to move with him to be his housekeeper.
In this life, William continued her voice lessons and Caroline was a favorite soprano in Bath. William's hobby astronomy grew, he created his own telescopes that could observe further into space, and Caroline was his assistant. She learned everything. This science changed their lives. William was recognized as a learned astronomer, hired as King George's astronomer he was able to quit his music job. Caroline his assistant. By the age of 32, Caroline was as able as her brother. And when her brother was away on business, she stood in his place. Caroline was the first woman, to receive a pension as a scientist from King George III.   No longer a servant.
Herschel's discoveries earned her a honored place in the history of astronomy.
...

observing the sky with a 27-inch (690 mm) focal length Newtonian telescope and by this means detected a number of astronomical objects during the years 1783 - 87, including most notably an independent discovery of M110 (NGC 205), the second companion of the Andromeda Galaxy. During 1786 - 97 she also discovered eight comets, her first comet being discovered on 1 August 1786. She had unquestioned priority on five of the comets[7] and had rediscovered Comet Encke in 1795.

Herschel lived to the age of 98; and though Caroline was only 4'3", she stands as a giant in the history of science of space.  And Caroline's Prince Charming was the science of the heavenly bodies of the sky.


Born this day in 1799, Anna Atkins, photographer and botanist. Atkins published(in two sections) the first book that used photographs titled Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions Part one 1843 and part two in 1853. It included 424 pictures. Making Atkins the first woman and or man to use this idea in a book form. It must be noted the inventor of the Cyanotype, Sir John Herschel, Caroline Hershcel's nephew!

March 15th

Born this day in 1838, Alice Cunningham Fletcher,pioneering anthropologist, author, and an advocate for Indian reform and Indian education. Best known for her field work of North America, mostly of the Omaha in Nebraska. In 1873, Fletcher was one of the founding members of Association of the Advancement of Women.
Fletcher began her studies of Indians of the past, but as her work progressed her work turned towards the present, their customs, music,and language. Working with others, Fletcher transcribed hundreds of Plains Indian songs.
Fletcher was an consultant to President Cleveland about the "Indian Problem". She was appointed by Congress, "oversee the allotment process of lands to Omaha, Nez Perce and Winnebago Indians." She helped write and get passed legislation which "...gave each Indian legal title to a plot of land and also granted them citizenship"
Now to list Fletcher's work, I see why her nickname was "Her Majesty".
In 1890, Fletcher was the first woman recognized as Fellow at Harvard University.
Lobbied Congress for the protection of Indian Ruins which failed but became to prototype of the Lacey Act in 1906.
A member of the American Association Advancement of Science in 1883.
A founding member of the American Anthropological Association.
First woman president of American Folklore Association.
"In 1911, The Omaha Tribe, co-authored with Francis La Flesche, an Omaha Indian was published. It is still considered to be the definitive work on the subject."

Living with my Indian friends...I found I was a stranger in my native land. As time went on, the outward aspect of nature remained the same, but change was wrought in me. I learned to hear the echoes of a time when every living thing even the sky had a voice. The voice devoutly heard by the ancient people of America I desired to make audible to others (as quoted in Temkin 1988:99).