WOMEN

San Francisco's Antique Vibrator Museum Chronicles the Fascinating, 150-Year History of Vibrators

Attached to one of San Francisco’s Good Vibrations stores is a museum dedicated to the surprisingly long history of vibrators.

Clara Barton photographed by Charles R. B. Claflin in 1865.

The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing Clara Barton's Diaries, Correspondences, and Other Rarely Seen Papers

Who was Clara Barton, really? Transcribing her personal documents can help shed light on a complex question.

Which historical women deserve a tiny, metallic likeness?

Which Trailblazing Women Should Be Featured on Quarters? The U.S. Mint Wants Your Suggestions

Sally Ride and Maya Angelou are the first two honorees, but you can help decide which other important women from history to feature on the collectible coins.

10 Juicy Facts About Mary Astor’s Purple Diary, Old Hollywood's Most Infamous Sex Scandal

Mary Astor and her 'Purple Diary' were the center of a Hollywood scandal so big, it knocked news of Hitler off the front page.

What's the Difference Between Men's and Women's Razors?

Men's razors aren't necessarily better than women's razors, but they are different (and not just because they aren't pink).

Eliza Carpenter was among the racers in the Land Run of 1893.

Eliza Carpenter, the Black Jockey Who Made Horse Racing History

While women jockeys face obstacles, perhaps none has faced the level of challenge that Eliza Carpenter did.

In September 2020, Google honored Jackie Ormes with a Google Doodle by artist Liz Montague.

6 Facts About Jackie Ormes, the First Black Woman Cartoonist

Jackie Ormes was a trailblazer for Black women cartoonists. Find out more about her life, legacy, and the doll that made history.

A shelf full of booze was no match for Carrie A. Nation's hatchet.

Carrie A. Nation, the Woman Who Attacked Alcoholism With a Hatchet

When it came to eliminating alcohol and shuttering saloons, Carrie A. Nation truly did have a smashing time.

It's not just about pelvic pain or bad periods.

6 Common Misconceptions About Endometriosis

There’s a lot of confusion about endometriosis symptoms, treatment, and other basics. We spoke to a specialist to set the record straight.

Jane Austen's House in Chawton, Hampshire.

PBS Is Hosting a Virtual Tour of Jane Austen’s House

Jane Austen’s books were all written in the Hampshire house, which is now a time capsule of her life there.

11 Facts About Donna Shirley, the First Woman to Manage a NASA Program

Donna Shirley made space history in the 1990s as the first woman to manage a NASA program. She led both the Mars Exploration Program and the team that built Sojourner, the first rover to land on the Red Planet.

Blue Staid ’Dos: How Blue Became Old Ladies’ Hair Color of Choice

Platinum blonde locks were first popularized by Jean Harlow, but older women quickly co-opted the trend.

Mattel Adds an Eleanor Roosevelt Barbie to Its ‘Inspiring Women’ Series

Eleanor Roosevelt is joining Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride, and other ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbies.

A new scout receiving her Eagle Scout neckerchief at a regional ceremony in Tacoma, Washington.

Almost 1000 Young Women Just Became the First Female Eagle Scouts in Boy Scout History

Only about 6 percent of all scouts ever become Eagle Scouts—the Boy Scouts’s highest rank. These young women went above and beyond to earn it.

6 Groundbreaking Facts About Elizabeth Blackwell, America’s First Woman Physician

When she graduated from medical school in 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell earned more than an M.D.: she also earned the distinction of becoming America’s first woman doctor.

The Trailblazing Story of Alexandrine Tinné, the Victorian Explorer Who Attempted to Cross the Sahara Desert

Alexine Tinné's quests to find the source of the Nile River and cross the Sahara Desert were no luxury holiday.

Frieda Belinfante (left) and Henriëtte Hilda Bosmans, her then-partner.

When Europe's First Female Orchestra Conductor Foiled the Nazis While Defying Gender Expectations

Frieda Belinfante realized she wasn’t destined to be a part of the orchestra—she was meant to lead it. But the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands during World War II put her career on hold.

Schlesinger Library, RIAS, Harvard University // No Known Copyright Restrictions

Alice Dunnigan, the First Black Woman Journalist to Get White House Press Credentials

Alice Dunnigan overcame racism, sexism, and other obstacles to make history as the first Black woman credentialed to cover the White House.

Iberia Airlines, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

The Story Behind Eva Perón’s Secret Lobotomy

At the end of her life, Eva Perón was suffering from painful cancer and displaying erratic behavior, and her lobotomy may have been a way to treat both problems.

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna Receive Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR Gene Editing Tool

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna have been awarded 2020's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, making them the first women to jointly receive the prize.

Madame Restell as imagined in the March 13, 1847, edition of the National Police Gazette.

When 'The Wickedest Woman of New York' Lived on Fifth Avenue

When Ann Trow Sommers first arrived in New York City in 1831, she had no idea how notorious and vilified she’d soon become. In a matter of years, she’d craft a whole new identity for herself as Madame Restell, a prominent and wealthy abortionist.

Kenya's Wangari Maathai isn't a household name, but she should be.

Meet Nina Chhita, the Artist Celebrating Diverse Female Scientists With Her Instagram Illustrations

From ‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Johnson to female Nobel Laureates you may not have heard of, Nina Chhita's Instagram is giving us some important history lessons.

Stories of important and influential women will be given more visibility thanks to grants from the National Park Foundation.

The National Park Foundation Will Spend Nearly $500,000 to Elevate the Stories of Pioneering Women Throughout History

The National Park Foundation is using 23 grants to give influential women and their stories a place of prominence at National Park Service sites across the country.

Sorghaghtani Beki, Genghis Khan's daughter-in-law, was a powerful ruler.

When Mongol Queens Ruled the Silk Road

The daughters of Genghis Khan ruled nations that controlled the Silk Road, the favored route for trading spices, cloth, pottery, and other goods between China, India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

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