- ask@gc.libanswers.com
- 409.944.1240 (phone)
- 409.220.4855 (text)
The National Women's History Alliance: Annual Theme - “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations”
This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations — both past and present.
Explore The National Women’s History Alliance to learn more about women’s history.
A Brief History
Every year March is designated Women's History Month by Presidential proclamation to honor women's contributions in American history.
Did You Know? Women's History Month started as Women's History Week.
Women's History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women's Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women's History Week celebrations the following year.
In 1980, a consortium of women's groups and historians—led by the National Women's History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980, as National Women's History Week.
In March, subsequent presidents continued to proclaim a National Women's History Week until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March 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, each President has issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as "Women's History Month."
