March is here. So does U.S. Women’s History Month. That means it’s time to put your head down and dive into the deep and rich history of women, past and present.
Origins of Women’s History Month dating back to 1978(opens in new tab) Sonoma County, California Commission on the Status of Women Education Task Force Organized Women’s History Week(opens in new tab) March.After an association of women’s groups and historians led by the National Women’s History Alliance (then known as the National Women’s History Project) succeeded in lobbying for national recognition in 1980.(opens in new tab), the week of March 8 became National Women’s History Week. And in 1987, Congress passed a law making her March Women’s History Month.
For too long, women’s stories and contributions have been left out of our national narrative, said Jennifer Herrera, vice president of foreign affairs at the National Museum of Women’s History.
“History is as complete as the stories we teach, share and learn. Women’s history is inspiring, inspiring and empowering. Include women’s voices and women’s stories. It will tell a more comprehensive, representative and accurate history,” she said.
With all of this in mind, Mashable reached out to a variety of organizations, including the National Museum of Women’s History, the National Women’s History Alliance, the New York Historical Society’s Center for Women’s History, the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Women’s History. Initiative — To create a compelling list of resources that enhance the little-told stories of underrepresented women. We have included digital media featuring a wide range of women from different cultures, sexualities, classes and disciplines.
Check out our free online selection below to add to your knowledge of how women have shaped the world.
I feel like Washington DC’s museums are being neglected(opens in new tab) In 1996, Karen Staser founded the Women’s History Museum. As a fully online museum, you can learn more about the women who have contributed to history from afar.
in a museum biography(opens in new tab) Learn about both historical and contemporary women who have broken down barriers, including poet Maya Angelou, for example.(opens in new tab)Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg(opens in new tab)First Native American Poet Laureate Joy Harjo(opens in new tab)and filmmaker Ava DuVernay(opens in new tab).
Collection of online exhibits(opens in new tab) Explore themes in women’s history.It also showcases some of the women included in its biographies, but includes more visual elements such as photographs and paintings.To learn the names and stories of women who were an integral part of NASA. I can(opens in new tab)sympathize with the struggles endured by Latinas and Hispanic suffragists(opens in new tab)or delve into the fascinating life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman(opens in new tab)And that’s just one example of what’s available.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, museums [email protected] The series offers virtual education, author talks, panel discussions, and more, all about pioneering women throughout history. Recordings of past events will continue [email protected] web page(opens in new tab).
You can revisit the museum in 2022 Women’s History Month Resource Toolkit(opens in new tab)is aimed at everyone “from individuals, educators and students, to small nonprofits and large corporations,” the organization said. The toolkit includes daily activities, online learning resources, and links to both in-person and virtual events throughout March. Women’s history version of the game solitaire(opens in new tab)created by the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
The museum will present its first physical exhibit, We Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC.(opens in new tab)in 2023, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.(opens in new tab)
The National Women’s History Alliance turned Mashable on 26 short animated documentaries collectively known as UNLADYLIKE2020.Orally transmitted by good wife Actress Julianna Margulies and Lorraine Toussaint orange is the new black, Each features a pivotal woman in history and captivates readers with its stunning art, upbeat music, expert interviews, and vivid detail.
Learn About Louise Arner Boyd(opens in new tab)The first woman to lead a scientific expedition in the Arctic.Or listen to the gender-nonconforming Gladys Bentley(opens in new tab)He sang the blues and played the piano during the Harlem Renaissance.Or support Gertrude Ederle(opens in new tab) Like watching her become the first woman to swim the English Channel. She inspired her more than 60,000 women in the United States to obtain Red Cross swimming certificates in her 1920s, when many Americans had never swam before.
Documentary filmmaker Charlotte Mangin created this series because she wanted to share the stories of pioneering but relatively unknown women in time for the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020. . First in their field, people of color faced additional hurdles, especially because of racism and sexism.
Mangin and her team formed a committee of 13 academic advisors to ensure historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity, and to select 26 women for the shorts.
UNLADYLIKE2020 also offers a free history curriculum and lesson plans based on the 26 women featured. This content is suitable for students in grades 6-12. You can access it at her website on PBS.(opens in new tab)Additionally, all videos and learning resources include Spanish subtitles(opens in new tab) available to viewers. For the Spanish version of the documentary video, visit the American Masters PBS YouTube channel.(opens in new tab)PBS Learning Media Site(opens in new tab)or the PBS Documentary Channel on Amazon Prime(opens in new tab)Find the accompanying study resources in Spanish under Supporting Materials for Working with Students. upon of PBS LearningMedia page for each video.
The New York Historical Society’s Center for Women’s History explores the lives of many prominent women in American history, from different cultures, sexualities, classes, and races.
Access the guide to your organization’s archives online.This allows visitors to search for women’s history topics by era of American history(opens in new tab)or thematic(opens in new tab)art and literature, education and education, as well as the social life of women throughout history.
that blog(opens in new tab) We cover many fascinating questions and topics such as if Wonder Woman was actually a feminist icon(opens in new tab)the history of women who wanted better medical masks and whose designs inspired the N95 mask(opens in new tab)and the integral role of black women in celebrating Juneteenth(opens in new tab).
The center also has a library.(opens in new tab) A collection of short animated videos that touch on “inspirational women’s stories and important themes.” For example, learn about Thomas(ine) Hall.(opens in new tab)a gender nonconformist living in colonial Virginia, or Lorenda Holmes(opens in new tab)a New York spy who sabotaged the American war effort during the American Revolution.
Additionally, the center hosts its own free digital curriculum site, Women & the American Story.(opens in new tab), designed for all ages.The site shares a wide swath of women’s history beginning with colonial times(opens in new tab)History classes cover a lot of information, all of which focus on the role of women, and women’s stories are often left out of history classes. Not only is it great for educators, but it’s also useful for just about anyone interested in the role of women in American history.
The National Women’s Hall of Fame, an organization dedicated to “honoring the achievements of prominent American women,” is home to a range of icons, many of whom defy societal gender norms to be the first women in their respective fields, or Became one of the first women. You can read about each of these women on her website at the National Women’s Hall of Fame.(opens in new tab).
Inducted women come from a variety of fields, including science, government, the arts, business, sports, education, and philanthropy. Read about Gwendolyn Brooks, for example.(opens in new tab)Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a noted poet from the South Side of Chicago(opens in new tab)the journalist and writer who fought to establish the Florida Everglades as a national park, or Althea Gibson(opens in new tab)the first black tennis player to win the All England Championship at Wimbledon(opens in new tab)You can also see past entrance ceremonies(opens in new tab).
The National Women’s Hall of Fame also records oral histories(opens in new tab) Some of the living initiates.Hear the story of former First Lady Rosalyn Carter(opens in new tab) Discuss how to raise her, give young children advice on how to make their dreams come true, and encourage them to do whatever they can to help others. Ruth Johnson Colvin(opens in new tab)106-year-old founder of Literacy Volunteers of America (now known as ProLiteracy Worldwide)(opens in new tab).
The Women’s History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution, part of a larger network of Smithsonian museums and resources, states:Studying, disseminating, and amplifying the history of American women(opens in new tab)After Congress enacted a law Create Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum(opens in new tab) December 2020.
As part of this mission, the public now has access to the initiative’s work. Its website has a wide range of educational resources, including an in-depth archive of stories and digitized versions of items from the physical collection. Handmade quilt by artist Viola Canady(opens in new tab), Astronaut Sally Ride pin(opens in new tab)and numerous restores photograph(opens in new tab)You can explore the archives by different themes such as activism(opens in new tab), entertainment(opens in new tab)and public service(opens in new tab)Each theme comes with related collectible items, conversation kits for educators, instructional videos, and even music playlists. You can view digitized photos of all objects and their stories.(opens in new tab).
The Smithsonian Institution hosts weekly virtual event(opens in new tab) Celebrate the achievements of women and girls, including workshops HERstory Jin Workshop(opens in new tab)), virtual roundtable ( An ongoing series that dives into the portrayal of indigenous women on screen(opens in new tab)), and youth products (such as Youth in Action: A Digital Future Series for Women(opens in new tab)).
All of these resources will expand the women that come to mind when you think of historical milestones, and perhaps make the women and girls in your life realize that greatness knows no bounds.
Updated: March 3, 2023 at 12:48 PM EST This article has been updated with additional information for Women’s History Month 2023.
Updated: March 11, 2022 at 2:15 PM EST This story was originally published in 2021 and updated with new resources and information in 2022. Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto.
