Women’s History Month 2016

Welcome to Women’s History Month here on SASEPrints!

Wondering where the United States’ celebration of Women’s History Month came from? Read on for a quick history from the Library of Congress.

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97–28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100–9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

For a bit of historical context, the first Women’s History Month in 1982 was almost 100 years after women received the right to vote in Wyoming Territory (1869). Jeannette Rankin was the first woman in Congress and was elected to the House of Representatives from Montana in 1916. National women’s suffrage was finally granted in 1920 with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.

SASE is celebrating Women’s History Month by recognizing the women in our life who inspire us. Join the conversation by using #SheInspiresMe and recognize someone special in your life!

Keep an eye out for other blog posts this month with a focus on women’s history and women making history!

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Originally published at saseconnect.org.