01

of 16

Susan B. Anthony

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Susan B. Anthony was a prominent women's rights activist who was known for her efforts in the suffrage movement during the 19th century. Guided by her Quaker beliefs that all people are equal, she began advocating for change early on in her life, collecting antislavery petitions at just 17. She dedicated her entire life to fighting for gender equality and the right for women to vote. Although she passed away back in 1906—14 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote—today, many honor her legacy by leaving "I voted" stickers at her gravesite.3

02

of 16

Sally Ride

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Back in 1983, Sally Ride, an astronaut and physicist, made history as the first American woman to journey into space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. She was the third woman worldwide to reach space, inspiring future generations of female scientists and explorers around the globe.4

03

of 16

Serena Williams

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Serena Williams, who is a tennis legend, has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, an achievement made all the more impressive as her 23rd victory was while she was pregnant. Known as one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport, she holds more Grand Slam titles than any other active player, has secured four Olympic gold medals, and was the highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2016. Beyond her remarkable career, Williams has also been a vocal advocate for gender and racial equality in sports, often speaking out against pay disparities.  

04

of 16

Edith Wharton

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Edith Wharton was a celebrated novelist who was best known for her depictions of New York's high society. In 1921, she became the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "The Age of Innocence." Wharton also earned Nobel Prize nominations in literature in 1927, 1928, and 1930, and was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.

05

of 16

Aretha Franklin

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Aretha Franklin did it all: As a singer, songwriter, pianist, and actress, she quickly became a household name in the 1960s. After finding success with songs like "Respect," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," Franklin was known as the Queen of Soul and was the first woman to ever be elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.6

06

of 16

Amelia Earhart

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There's a reason you immediately recognize Amelia Earhart's name. In 1932, she became the first female pilot (and only the second person ever) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She went on to become a best-selling author and a co-founder of The Ninety-Nines, an organization of female pilots.7 In 1937, Earhart went missing during a flight over the Pacific Ocean.

07

of 16

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a justice on the United States Supreme Court from 1993 until her death in 2020. She graduated first in her class at Columbia Law School and was the first Jewish woman (and only the second woman) to ever serve. She spent much of her career fighting for women's rights and gender equality and has since become an icon for the feminist movement.

08

of 16

Kamala Harris

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Kamala Harris made history in 2021 by becoming the vice president of the United States. She is the first woman and the first Black and South Asian American to hold the office. After her historic win in 2020, Harris inspired many people across the country when she said, "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last-because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities."  

In 2024, Harris took another bold step by running for president of the United States after then-President Joe Biden exited the race. Although she did not win, her words echoed resilience: "This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves." 

09

of 16

Ava DuVernay

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Ava DuVernay is a director and filmmaker known for her work on titles including 13th, When They See Us, Selma, and Middle of Nowhere. She was the first Black woman to win the directing award at the Sundance Film Festival.8 She also was the first Black woman to be nominated for both a Golden Globe Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Picture.

10

of 16

Patsy Takemoto Mink

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After a successful career as an attorney in Hawaii, Patsy Takemoto Mink became the first woman of color elected to Congress in 1965.9 As a third-generation Japanese American, Mink was the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress, where she fought for social welfare and civil liberties.

11

of 16

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

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As a leader of the women's rights movement in the late 1800s, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a firm advocate for equal rights for all. She hosted the first Women's Rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York, wrote speeches for Susan B. Anthony, and even scheduled her honeymoon around a World's Anti-Slavery convention.10 Like Anthony, she passed away before the 19th Amendment (which gave women the right to vote) was passed, but it could not have been passed without her advocacy.

12

of 16

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving first lady of the United States, but she did much more than simply support her husband in the presidency. After leaving office, she went on to become the United State's first delegate to the United Nations, where she served on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and helped pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.11

13

of 16

Michelle Obama

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After a successful career as a lawyer in Chicago, Michelle Obama became the first woman of color to become first lady of the United States in 2008. She used her position to advocate for health initiatives, access to higher education, and international education opportunities for girls all over the world. In 2018, her book Becoming broke records when it became the best-selling book of the year, selling more than 10 million copies within the first year.12

In August 2011, she was the first female public figure to make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens.

14

of 16

Maya Angelou

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Chances are good that you've heard Maya Angelou's work (even if you didn't know it at the time). Her works I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Still I Rise are commonly quoted today in reference to her years of activism in the civil rights movement. She's been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award, and three Grammys.

15

of 16

Sonia Sotomayor

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After graduating from Yale Law School, Sonia Sotomayor served as assistant district attorney in New York before she was nominated to the U.S. District Court by President George H.W. Bush. In 2009, she became the first Hispanic and Latina Justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court after she was nominated by President Barack Obama.

16

of 16

Katharine Graham

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Katharine Graham was a publisher who led The Washington Post for almost thirty years. She was the first female publisher of a major newspaper, and in 1972 she became the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company as the CEO of the Washington Post company.13 She also won a Pulitzer Prize for her memoir Personal History in 1998.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I learn more about the contributions of U.S. women in honor of Women's History Month?
• You can learn more about women in the United States and their contributions by reviewing documents, pictures, films, and other material in the National Archives. For instance, you can read the U.S. Circuit Court order committing Susan B. Anthony to the Albany County Jail for attempting to vote in Rochester, New York, on November 5, 1872, along with 14 other women.14
• How can I mark Women's History Month in my own life?
• Let the women in your daily life—a teacher or mentor, perhaps—know how they have inspired you. Make them a card or surprise them with a homemade food gift (nothing says thank you like prettily packaged pecan pie bars or triple-chocolate truffles) and attach a handmade gift tag. 
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• You can also attend a Women’s History Month event, or give back by donating time or money to a women-focused charity.