“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” — Maya Angelou
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women throughout history. Since its official designation in 1987, this month we honor women who have shaped society through their work in science, politics, literature, the arts, activism, and beyond.
The observance began in 1978 as a Women’s History Week celebration by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women. As communities across the country embraced the idea, a movement grew. In 1980, a coalition of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Alliance—successfully lobbied for national recognition. President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. Seven years later, Congress expanded the celebration to the entire month of March.
Learn about trailblazers of the past and present—from Sojourner Truth to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ada Lovelace to Malala Yousafzai—whose impact continues to shape our world.
Your library is a wonderful place to start exploring women’s history! With your library card, you have access to books, biographies, documentaries, and digital resources that highlight women’s voices and accomplishments. Visit your library this March to check out author spotlights, historical collections, and programs celebrating women’s achievements.
“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” — Jane Austen