For most people March is the month that we think of as "in like a lion, out like a lamb". Connecticutites celebrate "March Madness" and the Irish hail St. Patrick's Day. While all of these are fun and worthy events, I cannot let the month pass without a nod towards National Women's History Month (NWHM). It took awhile for NWHM to become an annual event. According to the
National Women's History Project it all began with a move for a weekly celebration in 1979.
"In 1979, Molly Murphy MacGregor, a member of our group, was invited to participate in The Women's History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, which was chaired by noted historian, Gerda Lerner and attended by the national leaders of organizations for women and girls. When the participants learned about the success of the Sonoma County's Women's History Week celebration, they decided to initiate similar celebrations within their own organizations, communities, and school districts. They also agreed to support an effort to secure a "National Women's History Week." By 1986, fourteen states In 1987, Congress proclaimed March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. This year's theme is Our History is our Strength. These simple five words can have powerful meaning to our gender. I wonder what image they evoke for you. I hope you'll take the time to think of where we've been and how truly far we've come. Take a moment to visit the National Women's History Project, read their brochure, take a quiz, and read about some famous women.
At Saxton B. we have many excellent books honoring women. This past year we have added many titles to support this theme through a generous donation by our First Selectwoman, Carmen Vance. They include non-fiction, biography, and fiction across all age level. I hope you've noticed the book plates honoring Carmen's donation and that you'll take the time to thank her when you see her. These are just a few of the the titles Carmen's gift has provided to our library:
Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League -/ Martha Ackmann
Liz Claiborne: The Legend, the Woman / Art Ortenberg
The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton / Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge
Changing Shoes: Getting Older--Not Old--With Style, Humor, and Grace / Tina Sloan
Jane Addams: Spirit in Action / Louise W. Knight
The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder / Erin Blakemore
Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism / Temple Grandin
The discovery of Jeanne Baret : a story of science, the high seas, and the first woman to circumnavigate the globe / Glynis Ridley.
SAXTON B. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
