“Writing Women Back into History” is the theme for March when the University of Minnesota, Crookston will recognize Women’s History Month with a series of events.
The National Women’s History Project, originator of Women’s History Month, recognizes that women have been missing from our history books and this year’s theme will honor the legacy of women throughout history.
Women’s History Month events on the Crookston campus include a theatrical performance, a common read, and a guest speaker who will focus on women and leadership.
• Monday, March 1 – Women’s Suffrage will be recognized with a special cake honoring the 90th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement and the 30th anniversary of the National Women’s History Project. Served in the Sargeant Student Center from 1 -3 p.m., calendars will be handed out to everyone with a schedule of events with an historical profile of women’s suffrage written by Sharon Neet,D.A., history professor at the U of M, Crookston. In the evening, Senior Eun Hye "Halie" Kang, a communication major, will present "The Women's Role in Korea” during the first in a series of international dinners held on the Crookston Campus. For information on the International Dinner Series, contact Rae French, coordinator of study abroad at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu).
• Tuesday, March 2 – Screening of the movie “Iron Jawed Angels,” which tells the story of several defiant young activists who put their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote. The movie will be shown in the Evergreen Hall classroom at 4 p.m.
• Thursday- Sunday, March 4, 5, 6, 7 – “Leader of the Pack,” a theater production based on the life and music of Ellie Greenwich will be performed in Kiehle Auditorium. Performances are scheduled each evening at 7:30 p.m. The play is produced by the U of M, Crookston Theater Department under the direction of George French and sponsored by Concerts & Lectures. Greenwich was a well-known American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under with a $15 maximum for families.
• Monday, March 29 – Guest speaker Peg Lonnquist, Ph.D., director of the Women’s Center at the University of Minnesota, will speak on the topic of women and leadership. Her presentation, which will begin at 4 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, is entitled “How to be Outrageous” will focus on the skills of women leaders. Hors d'œuvres will be served.
• Wednesday, March 31 – A book discussion on Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, an autobiographical family history by Chinese writer Jung Chang, will be held in the Prairie Room in the Sargeant Student Center. The discussion will be held at 3:30 p.m., just prior to the International Dinner scheduled later that evening. Copies of the book are available at the U of M, Crookston Bookstore.
President Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women’s History Week. Later, in 1987, Congress expanded the week into a month, and March is now celebrated as National Women’s History Month. For more information, visit www.nwhp.org.
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“Writing Women Back into History” is the theme for March when the University of Minnesota, Crookston will recognize Women’s History Month with a series of events.
The National Women’s History Project, originator of Women’s History Month, recognizes that women have been missing from our history books and this year’s theme will honor the legacy of women throughout history.
Women’s History Month events on the Crookston campus include a theatrical performance, a common read, and a guest speaker who will focus on women and leadership.
• Monday, March 1 – Women’s Suffrage will be recognized with a special cake honoring the 90th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement and the 30th anniversary of the National Women’s History Project. Served in the Sargeant Student Center from 1 -3 p.m., calendars will be handed out to everyone with a schedule of events with an historical profile of women’s suffrage written by Sharon Neet,D.A., history professor at the U of M, Crookston. In the evening, Senior Eun Hye "Halie" Kang, a communication major, will present "The Women's Role in Korea” during the first in a series of international dinners held on the Crookston Campus. For information on the International Dinner Series, contact Rae French, coordinator of study abroad at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu).
• Tuesday, March 2 – Screening of the movie “Iron Jawed Angels,” which tells the story of several defiant young activists who put their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote. The movie will be shown in the Evergreen Hall classroom at 4 p.m.
• Thursday- Sunday, March 4, 5, 6, 7 – “Leader of the Pack,” a theater production based on the life and music of Ellie Greenwich will be performed in Kiehle Auditorium. Performances are scheduled each evening at 7:30 p.m. The play is produced by the U of M, Crookston Theater Department under the direction of George French and sponsored by Concerts & Lectures. Greenwich was a well-known American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under with a $15 maximum for families.
• Monday, March 29 – Guest speaker Peg Lonnquist, Ph.D., director of the Women’s Center at the University of Minnesota, will speak on the topic of women and leadership. Her presentation, which will begin at 4 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, is entitled “How to be Outrageous” will focus on the skills of women leaders. Hors d'œuvres will be served.
• Wednesday, March 31 – A book discussion on Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, an autobiographical family history by Chinese writer Jung Chang, will be held in the Prairie Room in the Sargeant Student Center. The discussion will be held at 3:30 p.m., just prior to the International Dinner scheduled later that evening. Copies of the book are available at the U of M, Crookston Bookstore.
President Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women’s History Week. Later, in 1987, Congress expanded the week into a month, and March is now celebrated as National Women’s History Month. For more information, visit www.nwhp.org.
It’s been 90 years
This tribute, by Sharon Neet, D.A., professor of history in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department at the U of M, Crookston, was written in recognition of the 90th anniversary of the U.S. women winning the right to vote and in honor of Women’s History Month which is celebrated in March.
Abigail Addams wrote her husband, John, in March 1776 as he toiled to begin the revolution against British rule.
I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could.
The Founding Fathers did not include women in their Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation or the Constitution. Women would request, plead and plot to gain civil rights in America. The path to voting and social equality came with arguments and education that convinced men to support and ultimately vote for women’s rights at the poll and in court.
The women at the Seneca Falls Convention in July 1848 came together to put forward rights of women to be treated equal to men in the Declaration of Sentiments. After three days of discussion they declared that “All people are created equal”. The final document was signed by 68 women and 32 men.
Sojourner Truth, a former slave, addressed the Women’s Convention in 1851 with a moving extemporaneous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” She moved the gathering with her story of her double burden of being a woman and slave. Her speech is shaming of the prejudices of all who would deny rights to people because of gender and race.
The women’s suffrage movement mobilized women and convinced men that the right to vote was due all people. We often refer to women getting the right to vote as if it was granted by the states and the nation. It was not gifted to women; men voted in local and state elections to enfranchise women. The men of Wyoming were the first to vote to include women in territorial elections as voters. The men of Montana in 1914 granted the vote to the women of their state and two years later the men and women of the state elected Jeanette Rankin, the first women elected to the House of Representatives.
The 19th Amendment passed in 1920 by overwhelmingly male Congress became the law of the land. Women had the right to vote in all elections.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month let us, to paraphrase Abigail Addams, remember not only the ladies but also the men. It was by changing attitudes and laws that women have seen men vote for suffrage, and in recent years, men sitting as judges have ruled to extend equality to all. Educate for justice and pursue the right for all has been the women’s movement.
