Biographies

Undeterred by deafness and blindness, Helen Keller rose to become a major 20th century humanitarian, educator and writer.

Although best known for being the wife of famed civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Coretta Scott King created her own legacy.

Beverly LaHaye has been an influential voice in American conservative politics for decades and founded the Concerned Women for America.

Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms was a Republican United States Representative from Illinois who served from 1929 to 1931.

Maria Mitchell was the first female astronomer in the United States and the first American scientist to discover a comet.

Lucretia Mott argued as ardently for women’s rights as for black rights, including suffrage, education, and economic aid.

A prominent essayist of the American republic, Judith Sargent Murray was an early advocate of women’s equality, access to education, and the right to control their earnings.

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and set in motion one of the largest social movements in history, the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

A vocal leader of the 20th century women’s suffrage movement, Alice Paul advocated for and helped secure passage of the 19th Amendment.

Among the most famous women in early American history, Pocahontas is credited with helping the struggling English settlers survive.

Condoleezza Rice is the first African American woman to hold several positions, including Secretary of State.

Eleanor Roosevelt grew up to become one of the most important and beloved First Ladies, authors, reformers, and female leaders of the 20th century.

Wilma Rudolph relentlessly pursued her dreams becoming an international track and field star.

Legally blind since childhood, Olympic track and field athlete and marathon runner Marla Runyan never let her vision loss stand in the way of her athletic dreams.

Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man and joined the Patriot forces during the American Revolution. She was the only woman to earn a military pension for participation in the Revolutionary army.

Margaret Sanger founded the birth control movement and became an outspoken and life-long advocate for women’s reproductive rights.

Author, lecturer, and chief philosopher of the woman’s rights and suffrage movements.

Gloria Steinem is an acclaimed journalist, trailblazing feminist, and one of the most visible, passionate leaders and spokeswomen of the women’s rights movement.

A leading suffragist and abolitionist, Lucy Stone dedicated her life to battling inequality on all fronts.

Abolitionist author, Harriet Beecher Stowe rose to fame in 1851 with the publication of her best-selling book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which highlighted the evils of slavery, angered the slaveholding South.