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December 3

This Day in Women's History

By Jone Johnson Lewis, About.com

    1766: Barbara Frietschie born (96 years later she waved a Union flag in Frederick, Maryland, as General Robert E. Lee's army invaded. John Greenleaf Whittier published his poem "Barbara Fritchie" in 1863 based on this event)

    1799: Margaret O'Neale Eaton (Peggy Eaton) born (center of 1828 scandal in Washington, D.C.)

    1842: Ellen Swallow Richards born (chemist)

    1842: Phoebe Apperson Hurst born (philanthropist: kindergartens; founder, National Congress of Mothers)

    1910: Freda du Faur climbed Mount Cook in New Zealand in a record 6 hours. She was the first woman to scale the peak, and she did it wearing a skirt.

    1923: Maria Callas born (opera singer: soprano)

    1965: Katarina Witt born (figure skater; first woman skater to win an Emmy award)

Quote for Today

    When people ask me why I am running as a woman, I always answer, "What choice do I have?"

    — Patricia Schroeder

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This Day in Women's History Calendar © 1999-2006 Jone Johnson Lewis.

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