March Is Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month.  The observance began as Women’s History Week in 1978 and expanded to the entire month of March in 1987.  The theme for this year’s celebration is “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.”  We honor women who have taken the lead in the environmental or green movement.

President Obama in his March 3, 2009, proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month stated, “These women helped protect our environment and people while challenging the status quo and breaking social barriers.  Their achievements inspired generations of American women and men not only to save our planet, but also to overcome obstacles and pursue their interests and talents.  They join a long and proud history of American women leaders, and this month we honor the contributions of all women to our Nation.”

The Garden Club of America, historically a women's organization, strongly supported the creation of the National Park Service.  Women were at the forefront of the movement to preserve Mesa Verde.  They were active members of the Sierra Club and other organizations that worked to protect Yosemite, Glacier Bay and other parklands.  Marjory Stoneman Douglas dedicated her life to protecting and restoring the Florida Everglades.  Her book, The Everglades: Rivers of Grass, published in 1947, led to the preservation of the Everglades as a National Park.

The first two women rangers were working in parks in 1918 – at Yosemite and Mount Rainier.  By 1920, there were women in working as seasonal ranger-naturalists in several parks; some also wrote early field guides for park visitors.  The earliest women superintendents – Gertrude Cooper at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site and Wilhelmina Harris at Adams National Historical Park – broke ground for the many women who hold similar jobs today.  Superintendent Harris, who continued to work well into her 80s, broke age barriers as well.  These women helped to protect our built environment and ensure its preservation for future generations. 

Lady Bird Johnson Park on the George Washington Memorial Parkway honors the former first lady and her efforts to beautify America and its byways.  Mrs. Johnson believed that beautification meant "clean water, clean air, clean roadsides, safe waste disposal and preservation of valued old landmarks as well as great parks and wilderness areas."   

Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of women who took the lead to save our planet.

[Editor's note: For more on Isabelle Story, click on the link below...]