Monday, March 12, 2007

Women's Firsts and WE Magazine for Women

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." ~Marian Wright Edelman


In October of 2006, WE Magazine for women made it's debut (http://www.wemagazineforwomen.com) and I had the priviledge of writing about women. I was inspired by all the accomplishments women have made (and continue to make) to the world and wrote about Women's Firsts. Many of these women are no longer with us, but their legacy, the differences they made have lived on.

In celebration of Women's History Month, I am sharing an excerpt with you.

Did you know that Ann Franklin was the first woman to hold the title of newspaper editor (1796), Mary Kies was the first woman to be issued a US patent (1809) Arabella Mansfield was the first woman lawyer (1869), Lucy Walker was the first woman to successfully climb the Matterhorn in Switzerland (1871), or that 15 year old Annie Moore - from County Cork, Ireland was the first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island(1892)?

Vida Goldstein was the first woman in the British Empire to run for a national office. She ran for the Australian Senate (1902). Baroness Raymonde de la Roche of France was the first licensed woman pilot (1910), Rosika Schwimmer was the world's first woman ambassador. She was appointed the Hungarian ambassador to Switzerland (1918), Marie, Cecile, Yvonne, Emilie and Annette Dionne, were the first quintuplets to survive infancy. They were born near Callender, Ontario to Oliva and Elzire Dionne (1934)

You may know that Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova - Russian cosmonaut was the first woman in space (1963) and that Elizabeth P. Hoisington was the first female general in the US armed forces (1970), Barbara Walters was the first female newscaster on a US TV network news program (1976) and Wilma Mankiller (gotta love that name!) was the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe. She was elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985). But did you know that Elizabeth Ann Oliver was the first woman to have her baby's birth broadcast live over the Internet (1998)? Makes you think that some women will do anything to say they were first!

Here's to women continuing to lead the way in history and in our lives.

If you have not yet done so, be sure to register for Virtual Woman's Day™ taking place all day on Thursday March 15 (this week!). We look forward to welcoming you.

Warmest regards,

Heidi & Suzannah

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