The Library of Congress honors women during Women’s History Month in two ways. First, it has multiple online articles and exhibits about women’s influence on America, as well as historical information.  Second, it has various discussions, workshops, and more for public participation at various museums and libraries in Washington, D.C. 

The story of the establishment of “Women’s History Month” has a relatively short life. The idea began only a few decades ago in the 1970s, when many under-acknowledged groups were rising up and demanding recognition for their talents, intelligence and preferences.  A California commission formed its first “Women’s History Week” in 1978. That snowballed into a Congressional Proclamation in 1981 to establish the first “National Women’s History Week” across the United States.  That same year, President Jimmy Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as “National Women’s History Week.” 

This opened the doors to demonstrations of wide support for the recognition and honoring of the achievements of American women.  It became a grassroots effort, with local clubs, schools, societies and communities sponsoring programs and events in support of women’s history in March of each year.  With 14 states declaring their own “Women’s History Month,” Congress declared in 1987 that the entire month of March would officially be “National Women’s History Month,” with the nation honoring the extraordinary achievements of women.

Why is it important to have a women’s history month?  First, to speak out loud about the influence and accomplishments of women. Second, to encourage youngsters to acknowledge women as dependable, significant, worthy role models.

In order to give “Women’s History Month” more significance, several governmental bodies came together to sponsor several events during March.  This includes: the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  The emphasis they have given on the celebration is to the contribution women make to improve both the people of the planet and nature. 

In 2011, the Library of Congress will be sponsoring the following programs:

==online== Women Breaking Musical Barriers (history and live performances); Eleanor Roosevelt: American Visionary (online exhibit); Women of Our Time: Twentieth Century Photographs from the National Portrait Gallery (an interactive art gallery of several twentieth century’s most famous and influential American women); The Women of Four Wars (demonstrating in what capacity women played limited but important roles in the Korean and Vietnam wars); For Teachers (a special section for teachers to access resources to bring the subject into their classroom).

=tours, discussions, concerts= March 3, 10, 17 and 24: “Women in Art,” docent-lead tours (Smithsonian American Art Museum). March 6: “Women Art Revolution: A Secret History Artist Lynn Hershman” Leeson’s latest project takes on the challenge of chronicling the last half century of the so-called feminist art revolution. (National Gallery of Art). March 12: “Family Day: Women in Aviation & Space.” Learn about the incredible contributions of women in aviation, science, and aerospace at presentations throughout the day. (Smithosnian Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center) March 23: “Concert” by Tanya Anisimova, cellist and Lydia Frumkin, pianist Music by Anisimova and Schubert (National Gallery of Art). March 24: A Forum, “The Changing Roles of Women in Academic Leadership.” A panel of college presidents will discuss what it took to succeed and the future challenges for women in academia. (National Archives). March 27: “Gospel Concert,” Women and Children of the Washington Performing Arts Society Gospel Choirs (National Gallery of Art). March 30: Webcast & Discussion. “Women and Jazz: Transforming a Nation.” In this onstage conversation (and webcast), members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm discuss the history of women in jazz and the legacy of the Sweethearts (Smithsonian American History Museum).

Women’s History Month