World War II required an enormous number of troops and personnel throughout the world. The unrelenting demand for labor opened up new opportunities for women. For the first time, the United States…
Julia Perry (1924-1979) was an American composer of African descent who had remarkable success in Europe and the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. She made an international impression with her Stabat Mater…
We Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to activist Judy Heumann. The chutzpah she has demonstrated through decades of direct action has solidified fundamental civil rights for people with…
Anne Lister (1791–1840), often referred to as ‘the first modern lesbian,’ was a wealthy, independent British landowner, businesswoman, and prolific diarist. Her life has inspired the critically…
Dr. Suely Saro won the seat for Long Beach City Council District 6 in the November 3rd, 2020 election, becoming the first person of Cambodian descent to hold political office within Long Beach, one of…
On Easter Sunday, 1939, contralto Marian Anderson performed one of the most significant concerts in American history. Though Anderson was originally scheduled to perform in Washington D.C.'s…
You may know Monica Shannon as the author of the 1935 Newbery Award-winning book Dobry, but have you read her fairy tales set in California? They are remarkably descriptive and among the strangest…
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the women who have served as councilmembers of the Los Angeles City Council. Make sure you check out our previous three posts to learn…
After admiring her maps for several decades I began to ponder why the great Ruth Taylor White does not have a place in Tooley’s Dictionary of Mapmakers or even a Wikipedia page. After all, she must be…
During this third week of Women’s History Month, we are back with another post highlighting the women who have served on the Los Angeles City Council. This week’s councilmembers are: Ruth Galanter…
Last week we shared about the first three women to serve on the Los Angeles City Council. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, this week we are highlighting five more councilmembers: Pat…
Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the women who have served as councilmembers of the Los Angeles City Council. Each week during the month of March, we will be highlighting…
As African American Heritage Month ends and Women’s Heritage Month begins, I’d like to draw attention to Miriam Matthews, the trailblazing librarian whose lifetime of achievements are worthy of…
Since the publication of Anne Bradstreet’s book of poems The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up In America in 1650, women have been writing and publishing in America. From Bradstreet’s proto-feminist lyrics…
