August 5th

On this day in 1924 Mr. Harold Gray's new comic strip, "Little Orphan Annie" made her newspaper debut in the New York Daily News. Unlike the popular musical, "Annie", everyone is familiar with today. The comic strip star was more of super hero-saving the world with her her friends, Daddy Warbucks and Sandy, her dog. Little Orphan Annie was "saving the day" on endless train of adventures. "Gee whiskers" and "Leapin' lizards!" Annie's favorite sayings. The creator, Mr. Gray, started Annie's character as a boy! But, one day he met a little girl on the streets, she looked like a "ragamuffin with bright red hair" and then he knew this was the inspiration for his new comic strip character- Annie. There were over forty male comic strip characters and only three female.
Annie was kind, helpful, plucky, generous,and optimistic. Ready to take any bully, be they a neighborhood gang or some evil doer trying to take over the world. Now the "bad guy" changed with Gray's politics, but Annie was there with her inner compass that had a strong sense of right and wrong.
Little Orphan Annie, had long run, out living her creator, Gray who died in 1968, the stripe went into re-run which last until June 13th, 2010 and by this date she was only carried in 20 newspapers. Annie was a great role model for girls and boys too. With her signature red curly hair, flame red dress and then those very unusual eyes "round white circles."

August 4th

Born this day in 1697, Susanna Wright, poet. Born in England and her family Quakers, they immigrated to America in 1714, first settling in Pennsylvania and then by 1728 she and her family were settled in Wright's Ferry(known now as Columbia). Susanna never married and with the death of her mother in 1722, she was running her father's large household. We know about Susanna's life through surviving letters and her poetry.
Wright also raised prize winning silkworms and studied medicinal herbs- both very useful to a large household.
Wright home hosted many of the American leaders of her time: Benjamin Franklin,
Benjamin Rush, and historian Robert Proud. She drafted documents for her neighbors who were in need and unable to do so themselves. Wright also wrote on serious topics of the time. Most remembered,Franklin’s pamphlet denouncing the massacre of the Conestoga Indians, she a one of the writers.
Susanna wrote poetry. There was a group of Pennsylvania poets who exchanged poems: Hannah Griffitts,Deborah Logan, and Miclah Martha Moore. Over thirty poems have been found Wright's and most were located in "Moore's commonplace book."

Enlightenment! Wright wrote two poems that stand out, "To Eliza Norris at Farihill" and "Anna Boylens Letter to King Henry the 8th." Norris asked women to used Enlightenment revernce for reason to undermine the male prvilege protected by law:extant

But womankind call reason to their aid,
And question when or where that law
was made,
That law divine (a plausible pretence)
Oft urg’d with none, & oft with little
sense.

Susanna Wright was a well respected citizen of this New America and she was able make her voice known and was part of circle of women who made sure that their point of view of those times was heard. And all the while smiling with wit and feeding the family and running the very large household which also included her brother's too. To read Susann's Wright's poetry and the other poets of the book(they are all women): Milcah Martha Moore's book: a commonplace book from Revolutionary America

Rabbi Regina Jonas, Maggie Kuhn, Anne Klien, Martha Stewart August 3rd

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is
also full of the overcoming of it."
~Helen Keller

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1902, Regina
Jonas was the first female Rabbi. After
completing her studies- she wrote, "Can
a Woman be a Rabbi According to
Halachic Sources?" The answer was-yes.
Ordained in 1935. As the Nazi came to
power many rabbis emigrated- ironically
allowing Rabbi Jonas to preach in the
synagogues. She was arrested in 1942-
deported to "Theresienstadt" she worked
meeting the trains and giving hope and
courage to those entering the camps. She
wrote and preached 24 lectures. At age 42
Rabbi Jonas was murdered in Asuchwitz.

Born this day in 1905, founder of the "Gray
Panthers", Maggie Kuhn. Considered by
may to have started a contemporary culture
revolution- she redefined the meaning of age
and her battle cry,"young and old together."
Ms. Kuhn brought forward the social issues
of the elderly.

Born this day in 1923, Anne Klein, founder
of the label Anne Klein. She defined
the American women style of the 1960's
and though Anne Klein died suddenly in
1969 her company is still at the top of
fashion world today.

Martha Stewart was born this day in 1941.
Founder of Ominimedia, Ms. Stewart one
of the most well known business women
of our time. She has television, radio,
magazines, and books all in the service
of home and hospitality.

(Today's blog was first used in 2006, after reading it,
I felt it deserved repeating.)

Queen Emma von Waldeck Pyrmont and suffragist August 2nd

Born this day in 1858, Dutch Queen Emma von Waldeck-Pyrmont, Queen/Regent of the Netherlands.

On this day in 1884, Dutch Queen Emma is appointed Queen Regent of the Netherlands.
Throughout her life the Queen had many titles:

Her Serene Highness Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1858–1879)[1]

Her Majesty Queen Emma of the Netherlands, Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1879– 1890)
Her Majesty (Dowager) Queen Emma of the Netherlands, Queen Regent (1890–1898)
Her Majesty (Dowager) Queen Emma of the Netherlands, Queen Mother (1898–1934)

On this day in 1894, Dutch Queen Emma and the Dutch Society for Women Suffrage created a Royal Charter.

Born this day in 1858, Dutch composer, Cathrina van Rennes. Rennes wrote music mostly for childern.

Caroline Herschel, Maria Mitchell, Harriet Quimby August 1st

On this day in 1785, Caroline Herschel, became the first woman to discover a comet.
(to learn more about Herschel go to Beingwoman's Aug 1 entry 2006.)

On this day in 1911, Harriet Quimby was the first woman in the United States and the second woman in the world to receive a pilot's license.

Born this day in 1818, Maria Mitchell, astronomer. In 1847, she was the first American person to discover and record a comet sighting.

On this day in 1919, Queen Wilhelmina opened the first Air Fair in Amsterdam.