Nov 5th

Born this day in 1834,Anna Leonwens. Author of "Anna and the King of Siam" based on her life in Thailand. A British travel writer, educator, and social activist. But, it was Anna's travels to Mongkut, where she taught the wives and children of King of Siam and this experience lead to her book. And the book lead to three films -most memorable Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1951 musical comedy, "The King and I". Ms. Leonwens also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

Born this day in 1850, Ella Wheeler Wilscox, an American poet. Known as a popular poet, "Laugh and the world world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone". She wrote for the Hearst Newspapers and was syndicated throughout the country.

Nov 4th

On this day in 1965, Dickey Chapelle died in the battlefields of Vietnam. An American photojournalist, and war correspondent during WWII and the Vietnam War. Dickey Chapelle was a petite woman and her signature uniform: army fatigues, Australian bush hat, harlequin glasses and pearl earrings. Chapelle's calling was in her own words, "eyeballing history." or in the action. Chapelle was outspoken eccentric, with a voice like a ``marine drill sergeant.'' She would go beyond the call of duty; following the troops into the war zones to get the real story. But she had to fight her way into the war zone. Ms. Chapelle's first opportunity to go into battle was during World War II, following the Marines into the Battles of Iwo Jima and then Okinawa. Chapelle learned to jump with the paratroopers- she usually traveled with the troops. This tiny lady received many awards and the respect of the military and the journalism community.
While following a platoon on patrol on the front line, a land mine was set off by the soldier in front of her- Dickey Chapelle became the first woman to be killed in action and the first photo-journalist to be killed in the Vietnam War. Dickey Chapelle's courage gave courage.

Nov 3rd

On this day in 1793, Olympe de Gouges was guillotined. An advocate for Human Rights,
Ms. de Gouges led a progressive life style for her time. She married once and that was enough. A playwright by trade, she used her sharp writing skills to give focus to the plight of women and blacks. Ms. de Gouges wrote a letter in 1791 to Marie-Antoinette declaring "Rights for Women". This is the first document written to support women's rights. Based on the manifesto, "Rights for Men". She was also quoted as saying, "A woman has the right to mount the scaffold(executed) she must possess equally the right to mount the speaker's platform." Through her writing and in her death she achieved both.
(http://studymore.org.uk/xoly.htm) This is the best translation I found and if you know a better one, please share.

Also on this day in 1970, Bella Savitsky Abzug was elected to Congress. A leader in Women's Movement. Known as 'Battling Bella", "Mother Courage" and 'Hurricane Bella"
Ms. Abzug was quoted, "This woman's place is in the House- the House of Representatives!"

Oct 31st

Born this day in 1874, Ms. Rose was a pioneer in nutrition. With a Ph D from Yale in physiological chemistry. Ms. Rose established a department of nutrition and developed nutrition education programs for public schools and all this while teaching at Teachers College, Columbia from 1909-40. Many publications include but are not limited to: "The Standard Foundations of Nutrition" 1927; "How to Plan Meals in Wartime" 1917; "Some Food Facts to Help the Housewife in Feeding the Family" 1918;
and my favorite title: "Economical Diet and Cookery in Time of Emergency" Thank you Mary. And Happy Halloween! Candy is good for you, right? Irony. Can't make this stuff up.

Oct 27th

Born this day in 1940, Maxine Hong Kingston, author and is currently Professor Emeritus
at University of California. A Chinese American writer, awarded the National Book Critics
Award for Nonfiction in 1976 for "The Woman Warrior". Arrested in 2003, for crossing a police line while protesting the Iraq War in Washington,D.C. Her latest book, "The Fifth Book of Peace". I recommend reading and watching Bill Moyer's 2007 PBS interview with Ms. Kingston. For the past 15 years Kingston has been working with veterans of WW II, Vietnam and Iraq wars to help them overcome the horrors of war. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05252007/profile.html
I must add another book to Ms. Kingston's credit, Maxine Hong Kingston's Broken Book of Life: An Intertextual Study of the Woman Warrior and China Men (Hardcover)released Nov. 3rd, 2011.


Born this day in 1872, Emily Post, known for her writings on social manners. Ms. Post's first book published in 1922 ""Etiquette, in Society, in Business in Politics, and at Home."
It was a best seller in 1922 and continues to be as popular today as it was in 1922. In 1931, Ms. Post aired her opinions on her own radio show. Also 1931, Ms. Post began her newspaper column. In 1946, Ms. Post created "The Emily Post Institute." The current spokes woman is Ms. Peggy Post, Emily Post's great-grand-daughter-in-law.