February 17 - February 23
Birthdays
February 17
In 1902, Marian Anderson, described as the greatest voice of the 20th century.She was the first woman of color to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. She sang with the major orchestras and opera companies of the world and performed before major heads of state. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. In 1939, when the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow her to sing in their hall because of her race, Eleanor Roosevelt, among others, quit the organization and organized an outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead. Since the event the DAR has announced that the "refusal" was not a refusal, claiming the hall had been rented for an unspecified, other event.
February 18
In 1931, Toni Morrison, novelist (Tar Baby, Beloved, Song of Solomon). She was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993. Her Beloved (1987) won the Pulitzer Prize.
February 19
In 1903, Clare Boothe Luce, playwright, war correspondent and Representative to Congress. In 1959 she was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, but bowing to pressures opposing her strong anti- communist position that many feared would offend South Americans, she resigned before serving.
In 1917, Carson McCullers, writer, novelist and playwright. Her Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940) made her famous at age 23. She also authored Reflection in a Golden Eye (1941), The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and the much praised play The Member of the Wedding.
February 20
In 1805, Angelina Emily Grimke, along with her sister Sarah, were noted abolitistions and women's rightists who drew audiences in the thousands, but were widely criticized for addressing audiences of both sexes which was considered immoral. Angelina's letters to Catherine Beecher regarding slavery and abolition along with sister Sarah's letters on the Equality of the Sexes and The Condition of Women, published in 1838, probably constitute the first published advocacy for women's rights in the U.S. In about 1830 in Philadelphia Sarah and Angeline Grimke sat with their black friend Sarah Doublass and her mother to protest the existence of a "colored bench" in the Quaker meeting house.
February 21
In 1903, Anaïs Nin Paris, novelist (Winter of Artifice, House of Incense).
In 1946, Tyne Daly, actress (Judging Amy, Cagney & Lacey, Angel Unchained)
In 1936, Barbara Jordan, Representative to U.S. Congress 1973-79, only black and only woman in Texas State Senate 1966-1972. Because of health, she was forced to retire to teaching at the University of Texas, but served as a political advisor to Texas Governor Ann Richards.
February 22
In 1892, Edna St Vincent Millay poet/writer/feminist (Harp Weaver-Pulitzer Prize). She won the 1924 Pulitzer Prize.
Happenings
February 17
In 1870, Esther Morris was appointed the first female judge.
In 1969, Golda Meir was sworn in as Israel's first female prime minister.
February 21
In 1866, Lucy B Hobbs (Taylor) became the first US woman to earn a DDS degree.
February 22
In 1974, the first women's basketball game took place in Madison Square Garden and the management, convinced that the women couldn't draw a crowd, also scheduled a man's game afterwards. Following the women's game, the crowd of nearly 12,000 left and the men played before empty seats.
In 1994, the Church of England announced officially that it would ordain women as priests.
Birthdays
February 17
In 1902, Marian Anderson, described as the greatest voice of the 20th century.She was the first woman of color to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. She sang with the major orchestras and opera companies of the world and performed before major heads of state. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. In 1939, when the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow her to sing in their hall because of her race, Eleanor Roosevelt, among others, quit the organization and organized an outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead. Since the event the DAR has announced that the "refusal" was not a refusal, claiming the hall had been rented for an unspecified, other event.
February 18
In 1931, Toni Morrison, novelist (Tar Baby, Beloved, Song of Solomon). She was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993. Her Beloved (1987) won the Pulitzer Prize.
February 19
In 1903, Clare Boothe Luce, playwright, war correspondent and Representative to Congress. In 1959 she was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, but bowing to pressures opposing her strong anti- communist position that many feared would offend South Americans, she resigned before serving.
In 1917, Carson McCullers, writer, novelist and playwright. Her Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940) made her famous at age 23. She also authored Reflection in a Golden Eye (1941), The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and the much praised play The Member of the Wedding.
February 20
In 1805, Angelina Emily Grimke, along with her sister Sarah, were noted abolitistions and women's rightists who drew audiences in the thousands, but were widely criticized for addressing audiences of both sexes which was considered immoral. Angelina's letters to Catherine Beecher regarding slavery and abolition along with sister Sarah's letters on the Equality of the Sexes and The Condition of Women, published in 1838, probably constitute the first published advocacy for women's rights in the U.S. In about 1830 in Philadelphia Sarah and Angeline Grimke sat with their black friend Sarah Doublass and her mother to protest the existence of a "colored bench" in the Quaker meeting house.
February 21
In 1903, Anaïs Nin Paris, novelist (Winter of Artifice, House of Incense).
In 1946, Tyne Daly, actress (Judging Amy, Cagney & Lacey, Angel Unchained)
In 1936, Barbara Jordan, Representative to U.S. Congress 1973-79, only black and only woman in Texas State Senate 1966-1972. Because of health, she was forced to retire to teaching at the University of Texas, but served as a political advisor to Texas Governor Ann Richards.
February 22
In 1892, Edna St Vincent Millay poet/writer/feminist (Harp Weaver-Pulitzer Prize). She won the 1924 Pulitzer Prize.
Happenings
February 17
In 1870, Esther Morris was appointed the first female judge.
In 1969, Golda Meir was sworn in as Israel's first female prime minister.
February 21
In 1866, Lucy B Hobbs (Taylor) became the first US woman to earn a DDS degree.
February 22
In 1974, the first women's basketball game took place in Madison Square Garden and the management, convinced that the women couldn't draw a crowd, also scheduled a man's game afterwards. Following the women's game, the crowd of nearly 12,000 left and the men played before empty seats.
In 1994, the Church of England announced officially that it would ordain women as priests.