Women’s History Month is an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women in history. Women’s History Month started as “Women’s History Week” in 1978.

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March 1987 as Women’s History Month. Each year since then each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.

Women Trailblazers Barbara McClintock:

Barbara McClintock was an American scientist and cytogeneticist who discovered several important concepts that make modern molecular genetics possible She received the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Patsy Mink: An American attorney and politician from the state of Hawaii, she was the first woman of color and first Asian American elected to the U.S. Congress (1964). She was instrumental in introducing various legislation measures that would reform the U.S. education system.

Rudy Bridges: The first African American to integrate an all-white public school in Louisiana. She continues to serve as a civil rights activist and runs the Rudy Bridges Foundation, which promotes tolerance, respect and appreciation of differences.

Wilma Mankiller: In 1985, Oklahoma native Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to be Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, leading the largest tribe in the United States. In 1998, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton.

Hilary Clinton: She became the first woman to win a major party’s nomination for president and being the First Lady to win elected office (a seat in the U.S. Senate). Clinton also was U.S. Secretary of State under President Obama.

Madam C.J. Walker: Known as the “First Black woman millionaire in America,” she made her fortune by creating a homemade line of hair care products for Black women. She was known as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist who supported and contributed to various organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC).

Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani activist, she survived an assassination attack by the Taliban and became an internationally famous human rights and education advocate. She won the Nobel Peace Prize (2014) and became the youngest ever Nobel Laureate.