March is Women’s History Month. The month recognizes the struggles and accomplishments of American women throughout the history of the United States. Women’s History Month began in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28. This authorized and requested that the President proclaim the week of March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have declared March as "Women's History Month."
The 2013 theme for Women’s History Month is, Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Ideas for themes are submitted by individuals each year to the National Women’s History Project (NWHP). This year the NWHP honored 18 women who "are all extraordinary visionaries and role models in the STEM fields, where women are still noticeably underrepresented."
The ACC Libraries have access to a wealth of biographical information about several of the selected women, as well as many others. Our online collection of encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries from Gale Virtual Reference Library and Biographies in Context highlight many of this year’s honorees:
- Hattie Elizabeth Alexander
- Patricia Era Bath
- Elizabeth Blackwell
- Katharine Burr Blodgett
- Edith Clarke
- Rita R. Colwell
- Dian Fossey
- Helen Greiner
- Susan Gerbi
- Grace Murray Hopper
- Olga Frances Linares
- Julia Morgan
- Louise Pearce
- Jill Pipher
- Mary G. Ross
- Susan Solomon
- Flossie Wong-Staal
For additional resources on this topic explore our Women’s History Research Guide.
