Things I like: suffragettes, war workers, factory girls, socialites who got stuff done, ladies who ruled countries, and women who changed the world, even if it was just a little bit. Click on photos for sources.
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July 1965: Susie Sanders and Shirley Martin seated on a bench on the lawn of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama.
These young women were two of the first three African American students to attend the school. The school was integrated in September 1964 when Susie was a sophomore and Shirley was a senior.
From The Independent:
Florence Patterson, as she was then, was one of those who stepped in to fill the breach, volunteering for the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF). Though it was created just months before the end of the war, the WRAF counted 25,000 women in its ranks by the end of the conflict…
Florence’s story came to light in 2009, after a local newspaper story about her great longevity. The article was spotted by Andrew Holmes, a British researcher who tracks and verifies reports of so-called “supercentenarians” – people who live well beyond 100. He tracked down her service record at the National Archives, and she was subsequently recognised as a veteran of the war. At that time there were thought to be three other surviving veterans; she outlived them all.
To celebrate her 110th birthday, last February, the catering staff at RAF Marham baked her a special cake which was presented to her by officers who had travelled to see her at her daughter’s home in Kings Lynn.
Florence died in her sleep on Saturday. Although she saw no action, she was the last living veteran of World War I.
“The meat was laid on a board in the backdoor shed, and every piece was sprinkled with salt. The hams and the shoulders were put to pickle in brine, for they would be smoked, like the venison, in the hollow log.
‘You can’t beat hickory-cured ham,’ Pa said.”
-Laura Ingalls Wilder, “Little House in the Big Woods,” 1932
Born February 7, 1867 Laura Elizabeth Ingalls began her life in the Big Woods of Pepin County, Wisconsin. Her pioneering journeys began a few years later when her father started his search for a farm and home in the west. This journey continued for the next ten years as the Ingallses moved often, faced hard luck, hard work, and shared many adventures which Laura recounted in her “Little House” books.
The Hoover Library holds the papers of Rose Wilder Lane, the only child of Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder. Lane was the first biographer of Herbert Hoover which led to a friendship with the 31st president that lasted more than 40 years.
Learn more about Half-Pint at the Hoover Library.
Happy birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder!
(Source: facebook.com)
It was 60 years ago today that Queen Elizabeth II was declared Queen.
Take a look back at the memorable moments and significant events that took place over her long and admired rule here.
Pictured: Little Elizabeth stands in a field picking flowers circa 1930. As the eldest child, Elizabeth, often called “Lilibet” by her family, was treasured among family members, including her father, who snapped this photo.
Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998), artist and Howard University professor.
Lois painted portraits, as well as designing masks, textiles and stained glass windows. Well traveled, Lois was influenced by black culture in the US, Haiti and Africa.
Lois’s work is regularly displayed in museums. In 2012, her work will be on display in Maryland, Alabama and Florida.
Letter from Sereno E. Payne, Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to George Ray, Chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions, on behalf of the claim of Harriet Tubman that she was employed as a nurse, cook, and a spy, 02/05/1898
Despite this letter of support, Harriet never received her own pension. In 1899 Congress approved a $5 monthly increase in her widow’s pension, but that increase was never sent. Harriet died in 1913.
In 2003, Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) secured $11,750 for the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, NY. This amount represented the missing $5 in her widow’s pension over 14 year plus interest.
PBS has documentaries online about Obama, MLK, Malcolm X, Hurricane Katrina, and the Freedom Riders.
Airing this month:
Underground Railroad: The William Still Story (2/6 10pm)
The Black Power Mix Tape (2/9 10pm)
Slavery by Another Name (2/13 9pm)
More than a Month (2/16 10pm)
Cab Calloway: Sketches (2/27 10pm)
Pages from Lady Jane Grey’s Prayer Book, with a message written to Sir John Bridges, Lieutenant of the Tower, by her before her execution.
Forasmutche as you have desired so simple a weman to wrighte in so worthye a booke (good) Mayster Leaftaunte [Lieutenant] therefore I shall as a frende desyre you and as a Christian requer [require] you to call uppon god to encline youre harte to his lawes to quicken you in his waye and not to take the worde of trewethe utterlye oute of youre mouthe howe styll to dye that by deathe you maye purchase eternall life and remembre howe the ende of Mathusael [Methuselah] whoe as we reade in the Scriptures was the longeste lived that was of a manne died at the laste for as the Precher sayethe there is a tyme to be borne and a tyme to dye and the daye of deathe is better than the daye of oure birthe youres as the lorde knoweth as a frende Jane Duddeley’
Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. Jane and those who engineered her rise to the monarchy were executed after Mary I was declared the rightful queen.
(via tiny-librarian)
Excerpt from a new PBS documentary about Daisy Bates, the woman who oversaw the integration of Little Rock’s Central High. Check your local listings.
via Shorpy
July 1942. Back at the Melrose Park Buick plant near Chicago. “Production of aircraft engines. Reconditioning used spark plugs for use in testing airplane motors, Mighnon Gunn operates this small testing machine with speed and precision although she was new to the job two months ago. A former domestic worker, this young woman is now a willing and efficient war worker, one of many women who are relieving labor shortages in war industries throughout the country.”
“Hoping that you may help to keep warm the interest in raising the handicapped to the rights and activities of normal humanity, I am, with renewed thanks,
Faithfully yours,
Helen Keller”
From a letter to former President Herbert Hoover
(via ourpresidents)
Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.
Anne of Austria, Queen of France, Mother of King Louis XIV (1622-1625)
Peter Paul Rubens
Oakland, CA April 26, 1939 - Lee Ya-Ching arrives at the Oakland Airport aboard her red and yellow “Spirit of New China” plane on her campaign to...
Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily, Princess of Asturias. She was one of the daughters of Maria Carolina, and was likely named for her mother’s...
Obit of the Day: End the Beguines*
When Marcella Pattyn died on April 14, 2013 she took 800 years of history with her. Ms. Pattyn was a Beguine. A creation of the Middle Ages, beguines were lay women who formed communities that allowed them independence, both socially and economically.
