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Jone Johnson Lewis

Women's History

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Mother's Day and Anna Jarvis

Wednesday May 8, 2013
Mother's Day as we know it in America was initiated by the efforts of one woman: Anna Jarvis

British Sisterhood: Oral History Online

Wednesday May 8, 2013
The British Library has added an oral history collection on feminism and the women's liberation movement of the 1960s to 1980s. You'll find interviews on a variety of themes, plus biographies of those interviewed, a timeline and notes for teachers who want to use the material in the classroom. Learn more: Sisterhood and After: An Oral History of the Women's Liberation Movement

Suggested reading:

Three Generations of Well-Educated Women

Monday May 6, 2013
Jeanne d'Albret was a key leader in the Huguenot party in France in the 16th century. Her son became King of France, though he abandoned his mother's Protestantism in assuming the throne. Her mother was the writer Marguerite of Navarre, sister of King Francis I, and educated Jeanne according to Renaissance standards. Marguerite was, in turn, educated by her mother, Louise of Savoy, in languages, theology, philosophy, and history. Read more:

Queen Nefertiti

Sunday May 5, 2013
NefertitiThe Egyptian Queen Nefertiti is one of the most recognizable faces of ancient history, in large part because of the famous bust that was discovered in 1912. I've summarized here the known facts about Nefertiti's life, as well as several of the theories about her origins and what happened to her when she disappeared from the public record.

More about Nefertiti:

Image (c) 2005 ClipArt.com. Used with permission.

The Original Liberated Woman?

Saturday May 4, 2013
The original liberated woman: Dorothy Parker's pointed verbal wit and satire highlighted a new freedom for middle class women. She was fired from Vanity Fair Magazine -- she said for "having opinions" -- and wrote screenplays, poems (often satiric) and fiction. Here are some selected quotes from Dorothy Parker -- some old favorites and familiar, some likely to be new to you... read more

Comparable Worth

Friday May 3, 2013
The Equal Pay Act and many court decisions on pay equity revolve around the requirement that the work being compared be "equal work." But there may still be pay discrepancies between men and women if specific jobs that attract mostly women or mostly men have pay differences, yet have similar requirements for entry and performance. Thus, some have proposed -- and some have tried -- a system which tries to equalize pay based not on job title, but on the activities and entry requirements of the jobs.

Mother of All Agitators

Wednesday May 1, 2013
She claimed May 1, 1830 as her birthday, but she was really likely born on August 1, 1837. Mother Jones, the white-haired radical labor organizer known especially for her support of United Mine Workers strikes, was well aware of the impact her image had and carefully nurtured that image. While she may have exaggerated her age, she was much beloved within the ranks of labor for her ardent and reliable support. Read more: Mother Jones

More Women Poets Speak

Tuesday April 30, 2013
Yesterday's post highlighted the voices of American women poets born before the 20th century; today's post includes quotes from such women born in the first three decades of the 20th century. Again, they're a diverse group, and all quite outspoken:

Martha Washington, America's First First Lady

Tuesday April 30, 2013
adapted from an image courtesy of Library of CongressOn April 30, 1796, George Washington became the first President of the United States, and Martha Washington the first First Lady. The title "First Lady" was not used during Martha's time in that position, but her gracious hosting in the seats of government -- then New York and Philadelphia -- helped to set a standard for those who followed her. Ironically, Martha Washington did not want her husband to become the president.

Read more about America's First First Lady: Martha Washington

Women Poets Speak

Monday April 29, 2013
As National Poetry Month winds down, I'm featuring some quotes from American women poets. These five, all born before the 20th century began, include the well-known and the lesser-known, and all have quite a bit to say:

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