We are celebrating Women’s History Month, YWM style. All month-long, we will feature women of the past and present who misbehaved and changed the history of our country as well as paved the way for future women leaders.

March 11

1959: Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry opened at Barrymore Theater with Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil in the starring roles. This was the first Broadway play written by an African American woman and directed by an African American, Lloyd Richards. The play ran for 530 performances, becoming the longest running Broadway play written by an African American.

1923: Agatha Barbara is born. Barbara served as the President of Malta from 1982-1987.

1922: Madeline Houston McWhinnery is born. McWhinnery was founder of the First Women’s Bank in New York City, the first full-service U.S. commercial bank to be predominantly owned and operated by women.

1903: Dorothy Schiff born is born. In 1939 Schiff bought the New York Post. She wrestled it through the NYC newspaper wars and it lasted as the only daily afternoon paper.

1869: Beatrice Winser is born. Winser was a pioneering leader in the visual arts and education as well as a women’s labor advocate. She also headed the Newark Public Library and Newark Museum. 

1829: Dr. Sarah Dolley is born. Dolley was a physician and professional women’s advocate. In 1886, Dolley was one of a group of women physicians who established a Rochester clinic for women and children. The women who formed this clinic also founded the Practitioners’ Society, an organization of local women physicians and Dolley became its first president.

March 10

1965: Daisy Lampkin, founder of the National Council of Negro Women, died from the effects of a heart attack suffered the prior year.

1947: Kim Campbell is born. Campbell is first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Canada.

1913: “Conductor” of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman dies.

1867: Lillian Wald is born. Wald was a nurse, social worker, public health official, teacher, author, suffragist and the founder of American community nursing. In 1893, she organized the Henry Street Settlement, otherwise known as the Visiting Nurse Society (VNS) of New York. The VNS program became the model for similar entities across America and the world.

Celebrate women who made history and those who will – donate to change the lives of working women and their families.