Kate Kelly

Helen Gahagan Douglas (1900-1980) Actress Turned Congressperson

Elected as Democratic National Committeewoman from California
Elected to the House of Representatives in 1944, becoming only one of nine women to serve in the House at that time.

Helen Gahagan Douglas was born in 1900 and was raised in a well-to-do family in Brooklyn, New York. She was not a serious student but loved acting, and by the age of 22 she had been cast in a lead role on Broadway. She never returned to Barnard College where she had been a student.

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Lydia Estes Pinkham (1819-1883), Successful Entrepreneur

Formulated an herbal supplement to help women with menstrual cramps Offered help and advice to women re: health issues during an era when male doctors did not take women’s health

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The U.S. Constitution: Explained in Less Than an Hour

The United States Constitution is one of the most influential political documents of all time, and it is the cornerstone that supports our liberty.

Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or an interested citizen, what if you could explain the Constitution and the disagreements that led to its crafting in about an hour?

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Belva Lockwood (1830-1917), American Attorney and Crusader for Equal Rights

• She was admitted to what eventually became George Washington University Law School, but after completing the coursework, she was denied a diploma because she was a woman; after waiting a year she petitioned the U.S. President and soon received her diploma
• Had to petition Congress for the right for a woman to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court; she was the first woman to do so
• Ran for president in 1884 and 1888

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A Brief Note about Black History Month

From physician Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1833-1895) and businessman Reginald Lewis (1942-1993) to cartoonist Jackie Ormes (1911-1986) and architect Paul R. Williams (1894-1980), Black History Month has provided an opportunity to take a look at 21 fascinating individuals who succeeded against all odds.