Women's History Month actually started out as Women's History Week in Santa Rosa, California in 1978. In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance) successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” The month is set aside to honor women's contributions in American history.
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For over 30 years, the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), formerly the National Women's History Project, which was founded in Santa Rosa, California, has established a nationwide presence as the number one resource for information and material about the unfolding roles of women in American history. The NWHA leads both local and national efforts, consults, publishes, distributes, inspires, advises, and networks with a wide variety of institutions and activists in the field.
If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to forment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.
Abigail Adams, U.S. First Lady, 1776
How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!
Maya Angelou, African American poet
Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Dream with ambition, lead with conviction . . . and we will applaud you every step of the way.
Kamala Harris, First Female Vice President of the United States
I am prepared to sacrifice every so-called privilege I possess in order to have a few rights.
Inez Milholland, Suffragist 1909
In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
Margaret Thatcher, British politician
I raise up my voice - not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard . . . We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.
Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani Activist for Female Education and Youngest Nobel Peace Prize Recipient