Women's History Month

Every year, March is designated Women's History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women's contributions in American history.

Did You Know? Women's History Month started as Women's History Week . . .

Women's History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County.

(California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women's Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women's History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women's groups and historians-led by the National Women's History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)-successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women's History Week.

Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women's History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as "Women's History Month." Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as "Women's History Month." ¹

The National Women's History Alliance selects and publishes the yearly theme. The theme for Women's History Month 2025 is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations." This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations - both past and present. ²

"Women's history is an essential and indispensable part of the national narrative. By understanding the achievements, struggles, and contributions of women throughout history, we gain a fuller, more accurate, and more inclusive understanding of our collective past.”
Hillary Clinton
Former First Lady of the United States
U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State

¹ womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

² nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org

Women's History Events

Driving Forces: 100+ Years of Women Influencing Automobiles
Monday, March 3, 7:00pm
Fremont Public Library - Events Room, 2nd floor
From the start, women have been buying, designing, driving, and racing automobiles! Explore the impact female pioneers had on the automobile industry with Barbara Barrett. (In person/online)

Womanpower
Monday, March 10, 7:00pm
Fremont Public Library - Events Room, 2nd floor
Join storyteller Anne Shimojima as she shares folktale and literary traditions of strong, clever, brave, and kind women. (In person/online)

Stories of Lake County Women
Wednesday, March 19, 7:00pm
Fremont Public Library - Events Room, 2nd floor
Discover powerful women who shaped Lake County history, from the first official historian to artists and innovators, with an LCFPD educator. (In person/online)

Illinois Libraries Present - Experience 9to5: The Story of a Movement at Home!
Virtual Event Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23
Register to receive a link to watch 9to5: The Story of a Movement, which highlights the creation of the 9to5 movement, established to fight for workplace equity and against wage discrepancy. (Online)