The journey of Women’s History Month began with a simple yet powerful idea in Sonoma County, California, in 1978. Back then, women’s contributions to American history were largely absent from school curricula and public awareness. To address this oversight, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women organized the first-ever “Women’s History Week.” They chose the week of March 8th, International Women’s Day, as the focal point for their celebration, creating a foundation for what would eventually become a nationally recognized observance.
The Beginning of the Movement
This grassroots initiative received an enthusiastic response from the local community. Schools throughout the county developed special programs highlighting women’s achievements, while over one hundred community women volunteered their time to give classroom presentations. The week culminated in a celebratory parade and program in downtown Santa Rosa, California, drawing public attention to women’s historical contributions.
What began as a local educational initiative would soon catch the attention of national leaders and spark a movement that would transform how Americans understand their history.
The transformation from a local celebration to a national movement gained momentum in 1979 when Molly Murphy MacGregor, one of the Sonoma County organizers, participated in The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. This gathering of national leaders of women’s organizations was chaired by renowned historian Gerda Lerner.
When MacGregor shared the success of Sonoma County’s Women’s History Week, attendees were inspired to replicate similar celebrations in their own communities and organizations. More importantly, they committed to advocating for official national recognition of women’s historical contributions.
Their advocacy efforts quickly bore fruit. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. This executive recognition was followed by crucial bipartisan support in Congress.
Representative Barbara Mikulski and Senator Orrin Hatch co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution for National Women’s History Week in 1981, demonstrating that honoring women’s achievements transcended political divides. This formal recognition at the highest levels of government provided legitimacy to the growing movement and helped catalyze its expansion across the country.
Making a Mark
As word spread throughout the United States, the initiative gained impressive traction in educational systems. State departments of education began promoting National Women’s History Week as a strategy for achieving equity goals in classrooms. Several states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, and Alaska, developed and distributed curriculum materials for their public schools. The movement’s educational focus proved particularly effective, as it addressed a significant gap in how American history was being taught to younger generations.
Despite growing popularity, advocates faced the challenge of securing recognition annually, as the dates of National Women’s History Week changed each year with March 8th. This required a renewed lobbying effort every year, coordinated by what would eventually become the National Women’s History Alliance.
Thousands of individuals and hundreds of educational and women’s organizations participated in this nationwide campaign, demonstrating the grassroots power behind the movement. Their persistence would eventually lead to a more permanent solution that would eliminate the need for annual lobbying efforts.
By 1986, the movement had gained such momentum that 14 states had officially declared March as Women’s History Month, expanding the recognition beyond just a single week. This state-by-state approach created a rationale for advocates to lobby Congress for federal recognition of the entire month. Their persistent efforts culminated in a significant victory in 1987 when Congress officially declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity, eliminating the need for annual resolutions and solidifying women’s historical contributions in the national consciousness.
Since this congressional declaration, each U.S. President has issued annual proclamations honoring the achievements of American women throughout history. In his 1980 message establishing the first National Women’s History Week, President Carter noted that “the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” These annual proclamations continue to highlight specific themes and notable women who have shaped American society, ensuring their stories remain part of our collective historical narrative.
Women’s History Today
The establishment of Women’s History Month has had a profound impact on education across the United States. Prior to this recognition, women were often footnotes in historical narratives or missing entirely from textbooks and classroom discussions. Today, educational materials routinely include women’s perspectives and contributions, providing students with a more complete understanding of American history. This educational transformation represents one of the movement’s most significant and lasting achievements, influencing how generations of Americans understand their nation’s past.
Beyond the classroom, Women’s History Month has fostered greater public awareness of women’s historical and contemporary contributions to society. Libraries, museums, media outlets, and community organizations regularly develop special programming throughout March to highlight women’s achievements.
The month provides an opportunity to recognize not just famous women in history but also the countless unnamed women whose work, innovation, and activism have shaped our world. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we acknowledge that understanding women’s history is essential to comprehending the full American story and working toward a more equitable future.
