History of National Women’s History Month

On March 8, 1908,15,000 women marched in New York City demanding decent wages and working conditions. Their bold action inspired International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated worldwide since then. In 1980, Sonoma County, California expanded IWD to Women’s History Week, and in 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month

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Resources for Women’s History Month:

National Women’s History Alliance: For more than 40 years, the NWHA has provided women’s history materials and educational resources. nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org

Dangerous Women is a Leavenworth-based multicultural women’s history performance troupe. Unsettled will be presented at the Snowy Owl Theatre May 19, 20 and 21, 2023. dangerous-women.org

National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites: Supports and promotes the preservation and interpretation of sites pertaining to women’s history. ncwhs.org

National Women’s Hall of Fame: “Showcasing Great Women . . . Inspiring All.” womenofthehall.org

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum: Congress signed legislation in 2020 to create this museum. At this time, a virtual museum can be accessed online. womenshistory.si.edu

Unladylike2020 is a beautiful series of 26 short films and a one-hour documentary profiling diverse and little-known American women from the turn of the 20th century, and contemporary women who follow in their footsteps. unladylike2020.com

A Modern Reveal: Songs and Stories of Women Composers is an online resource dedicated to promoting the vocal works and stories of historical female composers who have been overlooked for centuries. amodernreveal.com

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago is an icon of feminist art, representing 1,038 women in history, housed in the Brooklyn Museum. This monumental work of art is comprised of a triangular table of three wings, each 48 feet long. Thirty-nine women from history are represented by China-painted plates resting on intricately embroidered runners. Another 999 names are inscribed on the heritage floor. brooklynmuseum.org

AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions: “The primary ambition of AWARE is to rewrite the history of art on an equal footing. Placing women on the same level as their male counterparts and making their works known is long overdue.” Artists, magazine, resources, videos. awarewomenartists.com