Phillis Wheatley was the first African American woman to publish a book of poems.

A prominent essayist of the American republic, Judith Sargent Murray was an early advocate of women’s equality, access to education, and the right to control their earnings.

Maria Mitchell was the first female astronomer in the United States and the first American scientist to discover a comet.

Undeterred by deafness and blindness, Helen Keller rose to become a major 20th century humanitarian, educator and writer.

Female labor activist “Mother Jones” was a self-proclaimed “hell-raiser”.

Julia Ward Howe was a writer, lecturer, abolitionist and suffragist.

Prudence Crandall bravely defied prevailing patterns of racial discrimination when she opened one of the first schools for African American girls in Connecticut in 1833.

Ruby Bridges was only six years old when she became the first African American to attend her elementary school.

Clara Barton was an educator, humanitarian, and founder of the American Red Cross.

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first American woman to receive a medical degree.

Mary McLeod Bethune was one of the most important Black educators, civil and women’s rights leaders and government officials of the twentieth century.

Catharine Esther Beecher was a nineteenth century teacher and writer who promoted equal access to education for women.