Civil rights activist Dorothy Bolden made it her mission to empower America’s working class. Her activism empowered domestic workers across the nation – and created noticeable change in the workplace for thousands of Black women.
Women and the American Story
Produced in partnership with the New York Historical Society, this series on Women in the American Story illuminates diverse women’s contributions to the American past. You can visit the WAMS project here: https://wams.nyhistory.org/
María Ruiz de Burton: Chicano Activist Writer
Latina author María Ruiz de Burton raised the plight of Mexicans in America with two satirical and revealing books at a time when female authors were few and far between.
Changunak Antisarlook: The Reindeer Queen
She was known as the Reindeer Queen – and one of the richest women in Alaska. So how did Changunak Antisarlook use her remarkable wealth to benefit the Inupiat community?
At a time when Apache men and women followed specific gender roles, Lozen defied convention – to become one of the finest warriors in the tribe’s history.
Sold into slavery by her parents, Polly Bemis faced discrimination as a Chinese immigrant in America – but became something of a pioneer of the West.
Dolley Madison: The First First Lady
As the host of unrivalled skill, First Lady Dolley Madison brought the US political elite together by throwing the best parties Washington, DC had ever seen.
Sacagawea: Intrepid Indigenous Explorer
Native American interpreter Sacagawea was the only woman on Lewis and Clark’s expedition into the West. She played a vital role, but was subsequently forgotten.
Charity and Sylvia: A Federal Era Love Story
Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant overcame many challenges to become pioneers of LGBTQ+ visibility in the United States.
Sally Hemings: Surviving Slavery and Sexual Exploitation
Sally Hemings was an enslaved woman who had several children with Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. Her story of agency and eventual emancipation remains an inspiration.
Toypurina: The Indigenous Female Freedom Fighter
The story of a Tongva woman named Toypurina who led a rebellion against a Spanish mission in Alta California.