Biographies generously sponsored by Susan D. Whiting.

Biographies

Every woman has a story.

"The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon."

-Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings

Women have always played an active role in history. Explore some of the historical women and contemporary newsmakers that continue to impact the world. New biographies are added regularly, so check back to discover inspiring new stories!

Featured Biographies

Captain Mary Therese Klinker was a U.S. Air Force flight nurse who died during Operation Babylift, a humanitarian mission to evacuate orphans from Vietnam.

Captain Mary Therese Klinker

Educator, soldier, and psychologist, Charity Adams Earley led the first African American women’s unit of the army on a tour of duty overseas during WWII.

Charity Adams Earley

Mary Joan Nielubowicz was the only woman in the Navy Nurse Corps to earn the rank of Commodore and the first non-physician to earn the role of Deputy Commander for Health Care Operations in 1984.

Admiral Mary Joan Nielubowicz

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Biography

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was a child actor with curly hair and later worked as an ambassador for the US government.

Biography

Mary Church Terrell

Mary Church Terrell was a well-known African American activist who championed racial equality and women’s suffrage.

Biography

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a skilled performer and woman guitarist, credited with the creation of rock and roll.

Biography

Captain Mary Therese Klinker

Captain Mary Therese Klinker was a U.S. Air Force flight nurse who died during Operation Babylift, a humanitarian mission to evacuate orphans from Vietnam.

Biography

Alma Woodsey Thomas

As an artist and world traveler who never married or had children, Alma Woodsey Thomas circumvented society’s expectations for Black women born in the 19th century.

Biography

Susette La Flesche Tibbles (“Bright Eyes”)

Susette La Flesche Tibbles, an Omaha woman, spent her entire life tirelessly campaigning for Native American rights as a speaker, activist, interpreter, and writer.

Biography

As a life-long Detroiter, and one of the first Muslim-Americans, as well as the first Palestinian-American woman, ever elected to the United States Congress, Tlaib advocates for issues that affect the working-class.

Biography

Rosie Lee Tompkins

Rosie Lee Tompkins was a renowned African-American quiltmaker whose dazzling work helped bring a new appreciation to the artistic form.

Biography

Nkenge Touré

Nkenge Touré is an activist whose expansive collection of speeches and written works confront issues around reproductive justice, Black feminism, and women’s rights.

Biography

Sister Margaret Traxler

Sister Margaret Traxler was a Catholic feminist nun and a civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the famous march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

Biography

Mary Treadwell

Mary Treadwell was a notable DC-based activist and community organizer, best known for co-creating Youth Pride, Inc., a job-training program helping inner-city youth, and her abortion decriminalization advocacy.

Biography

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman escaped enslavement and helped others reach freedom.

Biography

Sister Marjorie Tuite, O.P.

Sister Marjorie Tuite, O.P. was a Catholic feminist nun who fought for gender equality, especially within the Catholic Church.

Biography

Cicely Tyson

Cecily Tyson dedicated her career to portraying resilient African American women on the stage and the screen.

Biography

Minnie Vautrin

"Goddess of Mercy!" During the Rape of Nanking (1937-38), the Chinese women refugees under Minnie Vautrin’s protection gratefully addressed her this way.

Biography