May 3rd

Born this day in 1898, Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. How does a girl born in Kiev, Russia, whose family immigrated to Milwaukee, WI where she was raised and end up as Prime Minister Israel? It began with education, an education she stood up for when her parents wanted her marry. Fleeing to her older sister's(Sheyna Korngold) home in Denver, CO. It is there Golda's introduced to the Korngold's nightly intellectual discussions and debates on the events and ideals changing the world like, literature, women's suffrage, Unions, and Zionism. These evenings changed her life. Meeting her future husband Morris Meyerson. Returning to her family in Milwaukee and finishing her education, graduating in 1915. In 1916, she attended teachers college (Milwaukee State Normal School) and in 1917 graduating from college she taught in the Milwaukee public schools. All along as a member of the Labor Zionist youth movement. And it is now she began to speak at public meetings and host visitors from Palestine. 1917 is the year she agrees to marriage but only if they will settle in Palestine. This move was delayed by the outbreak of WWI.

1921 is the year they move to Palestine and join a kibbutz. Duties of farming and here her leadership abilities recognized and Golda was the Representative to Histadrut, (the General Federation of Labour.)

1924 They settle in Jerusalem and begin a family. their son Menachem (born 1924) and a daughter Sarah (born 1926).

1928, Golda was elected secretary of Moetzet HaPoalot (Working Women's Council) which required a two year stay in United States as a emissary. Golda took her children to the US, but her husband stayed. Their marriage was of distance and they grew apart, but they never divorced.

1934, Meir moved through the ranks of the Executive Committee of Histadrut and becomes head of the Political Department.

1938,Mier is the Jewish observer for the Palestine at the Évian Conference, President discussion of the problem of the Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persicution.
Very little help was given as the countries expressed their concerns and sympathy.

1948, homeland becomes a state, but before this can happen, the Jewish Agency concerned about the need to raise between 7-8 million from the American Jewish community. Mier traveled to the United States and raise 50 million dollars.
Ben-Gurion wrote that Meir's role as the, "Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible"

1948,Meir was one of twenty-four signatories (two of them women) of the Israeli declaration of independence on 14 May 1948.

1949-1956,Mier served as Minster Labor.

1956, Mier served as Foreign Minister under Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. It is at this time Moshe Sharett requested the ministers to change their last names, to Hebraicize So Mrs. Meyerson became Mier, meaning illuminate.

1966, Mier retires as the Foreign Minister.

1969, The sudden death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. Mier was elected as prime minister. Comes out of retirement Prime Minister Golda Mier takes office March 17th, 1969.

Prime Minister Mier met with world leaders to promote her vision of Peace in the Middle East. But, it became the time of violence. The 1972 Summer Olympics is known as the Munich Massacre. The Yom Kippur War. And even though her Party won the 1973 elections, Mier resigned April 11th, 1974, as she felt, "it was the will of the people." The burden of the unrest of the infighting in the Party and the border battles, took its toll.

1975, Mier published her autobiography, My Life

December 8th, 1978, Golda Mier died at the age of 80.


On this day in 1933Nellie Tayloe Ross took office as the first female Director of the U.S. Mint, appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She continued as director of the Mint until 1953.

May 2nd

On this day in 1676, Mary Rowlandson was released by her captors in King Philip's War. Rowlandson wrote about her experiences, published in 1682. It is the first in the genre of captivity narratives.

On this day in 1885, "Good Housekeeping" magazine is first published.

On this day in 1932, Pearl S. Buck, was awarded the Pulitzer for her novel The Good Earth.

On this day in 1970, Diane Crump becomes the first woman jockey in the Kentucky Derby.

May 1st

Born this day in 1751, Judith Sargent Stevens Murray, author and feminist. As an essayist Murray used this platform as a way to advocate for women's rights. One outstanding essay, "On the Equality of the Sexes," Written in 1779 and published in the Massachusetts Magazine in March and April 1790. One must point out it does pre-date Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792. Both visionary and important.
Murray received the acceptable education given to a daughter of her times, but it was when her brother two years younger education was more in depth...Murray questioned this treatment, the logic. So she was self-taught in many of her studies. Murray believed women deserved a good education and their parents should teach their daughters to "reverence themselves", which would prepare women to be fully realized citizens.
In 1770, Murray's family embraced Universalist faith which Judith followed the rest of her life.
Judith's first marriage to the sea captain John Stevens. Stevens did have great debts and to avoid prison he fled to West Indies. It is there he died in 1786. Their marriage did not produce any children. This poverty is one of the reasons, Murray turned to publishing her writings about women's rights and issues. And also during this marriage, Murray began to keep an historical record of her letters that were not discovered until 1984. These letters hav revealed a true account of American history at this time. And a rare look into a woman's life in this time period.
A second marriage to Universalist John Murray produced two children, the first a boy who only lived a few hours and then their daughter who lived to the age of 31. Even as mother and wife, Murray kept up her literary work and wrote under these assumed male names to allow the work to speak for itself-the pen names "Constantia," "The Reaper," "Honora Martesia," and, most famously, as her male persona "Mr. Vigilius"
Murray's three-volume 1798 book of essays and plays titled The Gleaner, established her as a leading author and intellect, and as an advocate for women's equality, education, and economic independence. Essays in The Gleaner also championed the new republic; considered citizenship, virtue, and philanthropy; decried war and violence of any kind; and discussed Universalism, Murray's chosen faith. The book was purchased by such prominent figures as George Washington, John Adams, Henry Knox, and Mercy Otis Warren.

“Will it be said that the judgment of a male of two years old, is more sage than that of a female's of the same age? I believe the reverse is generally observed to be true. But from that period what partiality! how is the one exalted, and the other depressed, by the contrary modes of education which are adopted! the one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limited. As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science. Grant that their minds are by nature equal, yet who shall wonder at the apparent superiority, if indeed custom becomes second nature”(1).

Murray moved to Natchez, Mississippi, to be with her daughter's household and it is there she died June 9th, 1820. It is also here that her work is being transcribed by the Judith Sargent Murray Society.

April 30th

On this day in 1997, as 42 million television viewers watched "Ellen" revealed she is gay.

Born this day in 1877, Alice B. Toklas, author and mostly known as the life companion of Gertrude Stein. Tolkas met Stein the first day she arrived in Paris, France. I believe it was love at first sight.  Together they hosted the Saturday night Salons at their now famous address,27 Rue de Fleurus.  Their guest list was the who's who of the avent-garde of the early 20th century. To drop a name or two, Picasso, Pound, Hemingway. Stein would sit and speak her mind- and Alice, her muse, would bake,cook and listen.  Alice typed each page Gertrude wrote.  Stein's most famous book was The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas published in 1933. Toklas outlived her dear one by 20 years. She wrote a couple of cook books and magazine articles. Sadly, Stein's family withheld the famous Cezanne painting Gertrude willed to Alice, making her living conditions...humble.  If they had married; this story would have eneded happily.

I wonder if Ellen selected the date of Alice Toklas's birthday as an homage to two women who lived their gay lifestyle out loud in the early part of the 20th century.

April 29th

Born this day in 1867, Margherita Hamm, noted journalist and suffragist. Hamm was the first woman to cover a war( Spanish-American War) from the front lines. Described as energetic and attractive, Hamm's first job was a reporter with the Boston Herald. A move to New York City and a marriage to American Vice-Consul to Amoy China- which put Hamm in a well positioned to be a foreign correspondent for the New York newspapers when the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1898. Hamm wrote about travel and High Society and of course the military. Sadly, Margherita died of pneumonia at the young age of 40.