We spend so much time talking about HIStory that it's about time we focus a bit more on HERstory. Women have had a profound impact in more ways than we can count—and they aren’t discussed enough!
In this month's blog, we're going to talk about some of the most prominent female figures who weren’t content to sit back and watch things happen, but instead got up and ensured their voices were heard.
Saving the Alamo
The Alamo is a name that we all know due to its significance in history, but one woman attached to this historical moment is Clara Driscoll. When Driscoll arrived in San Antonio in 1898, she was not thrilled about the state of the area she was looking to call home.
Driscoll spent money from her personal bank account to preserve the property that was the Alamo. Even more impressive is that although work with the Alamo took a large part of her time, she also served as the national committeewoman from the area for the Democratic Party.
Culture Inspired Her Career
As we all get older, our culture influences who we become, which is most evident in the work completed by artist Carmen Lomaz Garza. She worked closely with the Chicano Movement, with her main goal being to represent her culture in the most positive way possible and show a more positive side of Mexican-American families.
She is a name that is known by many, especially for the work she's done in creating vibrant artwork for the ofrendas of her people. Not only does she combat the racism of her people through her artwork, but she is also a teacher to spread accurate information about her culture to heal from years of wrongdoing.
Reaching For the Moon
There are many inferences to the efforts the US made in reaching the moon and the various things we've accomplished once doing so. Many can only dream of participating in a mission with NASA, but Millie Hughes-Fulford made these dreams a reality. In June 1991, she took part in the first Space lab mission for the purpose of biomedical studies.
Not only did she participate, but she was a part of a crew that featured two other female participants. After returning home from the mission, she took what she learned and continued to teach others while also doing more research until she passed away in 2021.
Stars, Satellites, & Her
Tons of people are interested in astronomy and the different meetings that come with studying the stars. However, one woman, Maria Mitchell, dedicated her life to astronomy and has been noted as the first scientist to discover comets. Not only did she spend her life studying astronomy, but she also spent a lot of her early career campaigning for the education of young women.
She served as one of the leaders for the AAW or American Association of Advancement of Women. Mitchell also created an excerpt detailing the importance of “Women in Science.”
Are You Making History?
These are just a few of the women that seized the day and made the most of it, but we have so many other titles that share and empower women who have taken matters into their own hands. We salute these women for their work and have gone even further to ensure you have the resources you need to teach your students about them.
Even more, don't forget to check out our blogs section to learn more about history and other important dates that you're not going to want to miss out on.