Newspaper Articles about American Women’s History

Women have been a part of American history from the very beginning, their courage, strength and intelligence helping to forge a new nation and shape its identity. Although circumscribed by social and political restraints for much of America’s past (it is still shocking to realize women could not even vote in this country until 1920!), the influence of women has been essential and undeniable. Until recently they have not been accorded enough attention in history textbooks, but women’s stories and achievements have been recorded in the nation’s newspapers. Here are some important events and figures in American women’s history, as presented in articles from our historical newspaper archive:

Jan. 4, 1821: Elizabeth Ann Seton: An American Saint
July 19, 1848: Women’s Rights: Seneca Falls Convention
Jan. 23, 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman Doctor in the U.S.
Jan. 23, 1849: Male Doctor Defends Elizabeth Blackwell, First Female Doctor
Oct. 23, 1850: First National Women’s Rights Convention Is Held
Nov. 12, 1850: Case of (White?) Mother, Daughter, and Grandchild Seized
March 20, 1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin
April 29, 1861: Northern Women Rally to Lincoln’s Call
May 24, 1862: Fiery Letter from a "Nashville She Rebel"
April 4, 1887: Prank Leads to Election of Nation’s First Woman Mayor
Nov. 14, 1889: Nellie Bly Races to Set Around-the-World Record
Jan. 25, 1890: “Plucky” Woman Beats Around the World in 80 Days Record
Oct. 24, 1901: Lady Daredevil First to Go over Niagara Falls in a Barrel
March 2, 1903: First Women-only Hotel Opens, in NYC
March 13, 1906: Suffragist Susan B. Anthony Dies
March 18, 1911: International Women’s Day Celebrated
April 16, 1912: Harriet Quimby: First Woman to Fly across English Channel
May 9, 1914: "Mother’s Day" Becomes an Official Holiday in the U.S.
March 4, 1917: Jeannette Rankin Becomes First Woman in Congress
Aug. 13, 1918: First Woman Joins U.S. Marine Corps
Aug. 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment: Voting Equality for Women
Aug. 26, 1920: 19th Amendment’s Botched Signing Ceremony Angers Women
May 16, 1923: A First for Amelia Earhart
Nov. 4, 1924: First Two Women Governors in U.S. History Elected
Feb. 17, 1925: Florence Kahn: First Jewish Woman Elected to Congress
Dec. 1, 1930: Aviation Pioneer Ruth Nichols Sets Cross-Country Flight Record
Jan. 12, 1932: Historic Milestone: First Woman U.S. Senator Elected
May 20-21, 1932: Amelia Earhart’s Solo Flight across the Atlantic
Aug. 24-25, 1932: Amelia Earhart: First Woman to Fly Nonstop across U.S.
May 23, 1934: Grisly End to Bonnie and Clyde’s Life of Crime
Jan. 11-12, 1935: Amelia Earhart: First Solo Flight from Hawaii to California
June 29, 1937: Amelia Earhart, Aviation Pioneer
Sept. 13, 1948: Margaret Smith First Woman Elected to Both the House and Senate
Dec. 1, 1955: Arrest of Rosa Parks Sparks Montgomery Bus Boycott
Feb. 19, 1963: Betty Friedan “Explodes” Feminine Stereotypes
May 15, 1970: First Two Women Generals in U.S. Military History
March 22, 1972: Congress Passes Equal Rights Amendment for Women
March 22, 1972: Opposing Views over the Equal Rights Amendment
Jan. 22, 1973: Roe v. Wade Abortion Ruling Divides the Nation
Sept. 20, 1973: "Battle of the Sexes" Tennis Match: King Throttles Riggs
Sept. 21, 1981: Nation’s First Woman Supreme Court Justice
March 20, 1985: Libby Riddles: First Woman to Win Iditarod Dog Sled Race
Jan. 28, 1986: The Shocking Loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger
Jan. 28, 1986: Students Stunned as Space Shuttle Challenger Explodes
March 9, 1990: Antonia Novello: First Woman and Hispanic Surgeon General
March 11, 1993: Janet Reno: First Female U.S. Attorney General