History is just that: a story of past events that allows one to know more about the present. Ask a room of people to name historical figures and you will hear anything from presidents to generals, from explorers to scientists, from media moguls to sports legends. Chances are that 99.9% of them will also be male. To be sure—all would be quite historical and quite correct.
But wait a minute. What happened to HERstory across time? Are there not women whose efforts and achievements have made a difference in the present? Yes. Yes. Yes.
In 1980, National Women’s History Project was founded in Santa Rosa, California by Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette Morgan to broadcast women’s historical achievements. The NWHP started by leading a coalition that successfully lobbied Congress to designate March as National Women’s History Month, now celebrated across the land.
Today, the NWHP is known nationally as the only clearinghouse providing information and training in multicultural women’s history for educators, community organizations, and parents-for anyone wanting to expand their understanding of women contributions to U. S. history. As their informative website proclaims: “Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less.”—Myra Pollack Sadker
Every day during March, this site will feature a different woman of “history”. Keep in mind our definition: a story of the past that helps us understand the present—including our most personal and intimate present. We can’t ignore the influence of our biological sisters as well as our soul sisters, the lessons of our mothers and grandmothers, the impact of known and little known women.
See this month as a celebration. We encourage you to send us tributes to the women from your history. Send us stories about women who didn’t make it in the history books but should have. We can print them all here. Send us pictures. Heck—send us money and dark chocolate. (Just kidding about the money. But we do encourage you to make a donation to the National Women’s History Project.)
Together, let’s find the role models that can inspire us to link arms and create great work and a world that works for all.
 Eieen McDargh, CSP CPAEMcDargh Communications |
 Eunice Parisi-CarewKen Blanchard Companies |
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What a great project this is!!!!! Eileen and Eunice, you are amazing. I can’t wait to read all the wonderful tributes, stories, and experiences that will be posted here.
Hi Eileen,
Beautiful blog! Your efforts are on track for with vision. This has the potential to help a lot of people (both women and men)!
Ed
This comes at a great time for us to acknowledge all those women whose significant contributions have been overshadowed by the writers of HIStory AND to celebrate and recognize also those women who courageously make a difference on perhaps smaller stages but no less important spheres of our lives. Thank you for starting the ball rolling.
Thanks so much, Susan, for acknowledging that we all have different size stagesand that NO size is insignificant. I hope you will keep coming back. There are amazing omen you will read about–amazing with determination of character. And– withouot a doubt- Feisty!
Pam–why not submit a story that you would like to highlight! we’d love to receive it. Just look for the Submit button!
My favorite military woman was grace hopper. She was a pioneer in the computer field. I saw her at a presentation back in the 60′s when I started in the computer field. One of her favorite sayings was that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
Jim
She’s rght… and actually, I understand that saying originated with the Jesuits! Thanks for reminding us of Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906 – January 1, 1992)who was an American computer scientist and United States Naval officer. Her work actually paved the way for the development of Cobol, one of the first modern programming languages. I am always so envious of people who can handle the science and math. I am so non-techie, I flunk light switch!
Grace was an inspiration for me. At the time I saw her, I was still like a Jesuit. I belonged to a religious order that was started by someone who was rejected by the Jesuits.
After leaving the order, I had a 50-year career in the computer field. I ended my career as dept chair of computer science. I taught all of the languages.
Grace also coined the term “computer bug”. The forgiveness/permission saying is often attributed to her. According to the “cool quotes collection” web site, the Jesuit version was: It is better to ask forgiveness than permission.
Jim
Awesome post, very good points. Just being here has improved my knowledge and I am looking forward to it as a very good information hub, I will say there are hundreds of posts to really take a look at. For instance this post and the replies. I must say that I got the most of the information from the replies here. Points were really talking about the experience here. I love to be the part of this forum and gain some good information. Thanks!
Thanks. Keep watching. You will see much more appear here,