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Do you remember the first time you heard that ominous warning? It was probably in an English class when you were studying Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. I did not remember the behind-the-scenes details of that omen even though I knew the literary significance of that date: Julius Caesar was murdered on March 15 by members of the Senate. Everything was fine until Caesar decided to add ten more days to the 355 day traditional Roman calendar and proclaimed himself dictator for life. That change was just too much! Et tu, Brute? Before Caesar made his fateful decisions, the Romans used […]

When I was searching for inspirational quotes for Women’s History Month, my research lead me to Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby. Yet, I neither recognized her name nor understood the significance of her quote. But I sensed it was important because it was etched on a massive granite wall. Have you heard of Colonel Hobby? In 1941, she was asked to come to DC to direct a women’s initiative in support of the Army. Due to her family responsibilities, she initially refused but reconsidered after our country’s declaration of war. Her husband, former Texas Governor William Hobby encouraged her to take […]

Do you know who was the first woman appointed to a president’s cabinet? That distinction goes to Frances Perkins who was appointed Secretary of Labor on March 4, 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1911 in New York City, she had witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire which left one hundred twenty-six mostly immigrant women, dead. As a sociologist and workers-rights advocate, this tragedy motivated her to improve working conditions for all workers. Secretary Perkins was a respected and effective member of FDR’s cabinet, helping with the development of his New Deal initiatives and Social Security. Secretary Perkins held her […]

March is Women’s History Month which began more than thirty-five years ago in Santa Rosa, California, as the National Women’s History Project. Five female colleagues were dismayed that women’s achievements were rarely mentioned in the school’s history books and that girls had limited role models. So they set out to change that and their grassroots’ efforts paid off. In March 1980, they convinced Congress and the White House to create the National Women’s History Week. Then seven years later it was expanded to the entire month and became known as National Women’s History Month. Thanks to their vision and persistence, […]