June 8th

Born this day in 1816, Mary Lucinda Bonney, educator and advocate for Native Americans Land Rights. Bonney was educated at Troy Female Seminary. Opening her own school in 1850, Chestnut Street Female Seminary in Philadelphia. She was the president for 38 years. Bonney also active in fund raising for missionaries overseas.

But, when Bonney became aware of the plight of the Native Americans; the United States government was not honoring their land treaties with the Native American Tribes. Bonney took up the Cause.
She opened Women’s National Indian Association. Bonney lobbied Congress to return the Lands of the Native Americans back in their trust.
The white settlers moving across the Great Plains, the Native Americans reservations became smaller or disappeared. Bonney traveled across the country collecting signatures to petition Congress to honor the Native Americans homeland. In the end, Bonney collected 50,000 signatures which she presented to Congress which lead to the Dawes Act of 1887.

The Dawes Act:

The impact on Indians of the Dawes Act was negative. The act "was the culmination of American attempts to destroy tribes and their governments and to open Indian lands to settlement by non-Indians and to development by railroads."[1] Land owned by Indians decreased from 138 million acres in 1887 to 48 million acres in 1934.

And, there was a provision that any excess land could be given to any white settlers moving into the West! There was no intention to help the Tribes but to divide and conquer. And 1908, the Act was then known as The Curtus Act, which completed the process of destroying tribal government but abolishing tribal jurisdiction of Indian Land.

Bonney kept fighting the good fight for the Native American Tribes and for their land rights until her death in 1900.

June 7th

Born this day in 1662, Celia Fiennes,travel writer?, the first tourist of England?
Fiennes never married and moved into the London home of her married sister in 1691.
But, Fiennes traveling began in 1684,riding side-saddle and why,"to regain my health by variety and change of aire and exercise"
Now, don't think about sweet little paths and winding roads and villages...at this time, England's country side was still quiet wild. A narrow dirt road and exposed to the elements. But, Fiennes joy and enthusiasm kept her going. And the concept of traveling just to travel was not at all common. She kept a journal of her adventures, not with the idea of publishing, but for her family's entertainment.
She wrote about the great houses that were just being built, and the castles she stayed in- this was a time if a lady or gentleman showed up at your castle door, room was made for them. Fiennes wrote about her mis-adventures her interest in the funtion of bridges, and any manner of new structures of the times, that she found along the road. A fall here or there, but she was never injured.
Some travel was with relatives, but in 1698, Fiennes made her, "Great Journey to Newcastle and Cornwell" which she made by still riding side saddle "with only a servant or two". Her travels winded down by 1712, Fiennes travels took her to every county of England. Making Celia Fiennes the first woman to acommplish this feat!
In 1812, Robert Southey published extracts from Fiennes travel journals. Then in 1888, a more complete edition came out.
In 1947, Christopher Morris published "The Journeys of Celia Fiennes".
Fiennes travel journals have continued to stay in print in one form or another.
Oh and the nursery rhyme, Banbury Cross is about Celia Fiennes

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes

On this day in Mary Terrell wins the stuggle to end segregation in Washington D.C. restarants.

June 6th

Born this day in 1939, Marian Wright Edelman, activist,advocate for children, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund. Edelman was the first African American woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar.
Edelman's passion for the well being of children convinced congress to overhaul foster care, support adoption, improve child care, protect children who are disabled, homeless, abused, and neglected.

“If you don’t like the way the world is, you have an obligation to change it. Just do it one step at a time.”[3]
Edelman has been honored with the, MacArthur Fellowship, Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, Boy Scouts of America, Silver Buffalo Award. And in 2000 the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

June 5th

Born this day in 1646, Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the first woman to receive a doctrine degree. A daughter of Italian nobility, Piscopia's education began at the age of seven, studies in Greek, Latin, grammar, music, mathematics, astronomy, but her favorite subjects were philosophy and theology. A talent for languages, Piscopia added Hebrew, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Fluent in all these languages.
Piscopia's father sent her to the University of Padua to further her studies. A little unusual for the time. She only sought to continue her education but her father wanted his daughter to be recognized for her accomplishments. The Catholic Church did not want to Doctor of Theology upon a woman.
Piscopia applied again with her father's support and the Church allowed Piscopia to apply for a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Elena applied, again, at her father's insistence. This time the Church agreed Elena Piscopia could apply for a Doctorate of Philosophy.
The news spread and the University Hall for which the examination was to take place was too small for all who came to watch and so it was moved to the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin, Padua.
Elena Piscopia impressed her examiners. June 25th, 1678,Piscopia received the Doctrine of Philosophy degree from the University of Padua. Crowned with the Laurel Crown with a Doctor's Ring, Teacher's Ermine cape. Piscopia became the first woman to receive a Doctorate degree. She was 32.

June 4th

On this day in 1917 the very 1st Pulitzer Prize were awarded to three women,Laura E. Richards, Maude H. Elliott and Florence Hall for their biography of Julia Ward Howe.
There several others given out on that day, but these amazing women were the very first.

On this day in 1919,the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passes by the U.S. Senate.


On this day in 1988 Kay Cottee sails into Sydney and becoming the first woman to circle the globe alone.