Birthdays
Welcome to the Birthdays page where there's at least one notable woman for every day of the year. Mini-profiles of some of the women can be found in the Blog section, and elsewhere, and this will be added to throughout 2016. I've included links for each of the names but if you know of a better site please let me know. It's taken a while but it's finally done! When I first added them up, I was surprised to see that I'd got 492 women on the list. Of course I then had to get it up to 500, which was easy thanks to #InspiringWomen on Twitter and all the brilliant webpages devoted to them. Now 1200+ inspiring women!
I hope you'll agree that we have some fantastic role models - scientists, writers, pioneers, social reformers and more.
If you know of any women who should be included please contact me and I'd be particularly interested in women outside the US and UK as these seem to be well represented. Click here to contact me.
I hope you share your birthday with someone awesome!
My thanks to all the wonderful websites and blogs whose links are included on this page.
1st January
Noor Inayat Khan, 1914 - Hindustani Special Ops Agent Maria Edgeworth, 1768 - Anglo Irish Writer Audrey Wurdemann, 1911 - American Poet 2nd January Martha Carey Thomas, 1857 - US Educator and Suffragist Lillian Leitzel, 1892 - German Acrobat and Strongwoman Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1898 - African American Attorney Juanita Jackson Mitchell, 1913 - African American Lawyer Slava Raskaj, 1877 - Croatian Watercolourist 3rd January Lucretia Mott, 1793 - US Abolitionist, Activist & Reformer Helen Parkhurst, 1887 - American Educator Carolyn Haywood, 1898 - American Author and Illustrator Dorothy Arzner, 1897 - American Screenwriter & Director 4th January Johanna Westerdijk, 1883 - Dutch Botanist Meta Vannas, 1924 - Estonian Soviet Politician 5th January Jeannette Piccard, 1895 - US High Altitude Balloonist (video) Elizabeth Cotten, 1893 - African American Singer Songwriter Stella Gibbons, 1902 - British Author and Journalist Kathleen Kenyon, 1906 - British Archaeologist 6th January Aleksandra Ekster, 1882 - Russian Painter and Designer Melchora Aquino, 1812 - Filipina Revolutionary Kathryn Hulme, 1900 - American Author and Memoirist 7th January Zora Hurston, 1891 - US Folklorist and Anthropologist Clara Haskil, 1895 - Romanian Classical Pianist Mirja Hietamies, 1931 - Finnish Cross Country Skier Sadako Sasaki, 1943 - Japanese Hiroshima survivor then victim 8th January Fanny Bullock Workman, 1859 - US Explorer and Mountaineer Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, 1864 - US Union Organiser Emily Balch, 1867 - American Nobel Peace Prize Winner 9th January Elizabeth Britton, 1857 - American Botanist Cassandra Austen, 1773 - British Watercolourist Carrie Chapman Catt, 1859 - US Women's Rights Activist Alma Ziegler, 1918 - American Baseball Player 10th January Barbara Hepworth, 1903 - British Modernist Sculptor Katherine Blodgett, 1898 - American Inventor & PhD Violette Cordery, 1900 - British Racing Driver (Video) 11th January Alice Paul, 1885 - American Suffragist Eva Le Galliene, 1899 - British American Actress & Director (video) Kwon Ki-ok, 1901 - Korean Pilot Nora Haysen, 1911 - Australian Artist 12th January Marika Stiernstedt, 1875 - Author & Chair of Swedish Writers Union Laura Adams Armer, 1874 - American Artist and Writer Rosalba Carriera, 1673 - Italian Artist 13th January Sabine Zlatin, 1907 - Polish/French Nurse who helped Jewish children in WW2 Dachine Rainer, 1921 - American British Poet and Anarchist Carolyn Gold Heilbrun, 1926 - American Academic 14th January Corona Schröter, 1751 - German Musician and Composer Berthe Morisot, 1841 - French Impressionist Painter Nina Ricci, 1883 - Italian French Fashion Designer Clara Beranger, 1886 - American Screenwriter 15th January Sofia Kovalevskaya, 1850 - Russian Mathematician Maria Mitchell, 1818 - American Astronomer Mazo de la Roche, 1879 - Canadian Author 16th January Dian Fossey, 1932 - American Zoologist & Gorilla Expert Eleanor Marx, 1855 - British Socialist Feminist Activist Dorothe Engelbretsdatter, 1634 - Norwegian Author Ruth Rose, 1896 - American Screenwriter 17th January Edith Green, 1910 - US Politician, Reformer & Educator Ellen Wood, 1814 - British Novelist Alva Belmont, 1853 - American Suffragist & Philanthropist 18th January Clara Nordstrom, 1886 - Swedish/German Writer & Translator Elena Arizmendi Mejia, 1884 - Mexican Feminist & Founder of the Neutral White Cross 19th January Anne Hummert, 1905 - American Radio Pioneer Sophie Taeuber-Arp, 1889 - Swiss Artist, Sculptor & Dancer Magda Tagliaferro, 1893 - Brazilian Pianist (video) 20th January Anne Clough, 1820 - British Suffragist & reformer Clarice Cliff, 1899 - British Potter Fleur Cowles, 1908 - American Writer & Illustrator Joy Adamson, 1910 - Austrian Naturalist & Writer Julia Morgan, 1872 - American Architect 21st January Sophia Jex-Blake, 1840 - British Physician, Teacher & Feminist Eva Ibbotson, 1925 - Austrian British Children's Writer 22nd January Beatrice Webb, 1858 - British Sociologist & Economist Beryl Swain, 1936 - British TT Motorcycle Racer 23rd January Gertrude Elion, 1918 - US Biochemist & Pharmacologist Camilla Collett, 1813 - Norwegian Feminist Writer Grete Schütte-Lihotzky, 1897 - Austrian Architect Tatiana Proskouriakoff, 1909 - Russian American Architect and Archaeologist 24th January Marguerite Durand, 1864 - French Journalist, Actress & Suffragette Hedwig "Vicki" Baum, 1888 - Austrian Author Doris Haddock, 1910 - American Political Activist 25th January Virginia Woolf, 1882 - British Writer and Feminist Ramabai Ranade, 1862 - Indian Social Worker and Activist Julia Smith, 1905 - American Composer and Pianist 26th January Bessie Coleman, 1892 - African American Aviator Mary Mapes Dodge, 1831 - American Writer and Editor Patricia Hughes, 1923 - British Radio Presenter 27th January Hester Thrale, 1741 - British Diarist and Author Beatrice Tinsley, 1941 - New Zealand Astronomer Georgia Neese Clark, 1898 - American Economist 28th January Ada Chew, 1870 - British Union Organiser and Suffragist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, 1873 - French Writer & Performer Marthe Bibesco, 1886 - Romanian/French Writer Alice Neel, 1900 - American Painter Nien Cheng, 1915 - Chinese Author 29th January Marguerite Canal, 1890 - French Composer and Conductor Muna Lee, 1895 - American/Puerto Rican Poet and Activist 30th January Barbara Tuchman, 1912 - American Historian and author Amrita Sher-Gil, 1913 - Hungarian born Indian Artist Marianne Ferber, 1923 - Czech Canadian Economist Machiko Hasegawa, 1920 - Japanese Manga Artist 31st January Freya Stark, 1893 - British Explorer and Travel Writer Alva Myrdal, 1902 - Swedish Sociologist & Nobel Prize winner Matilda Knowles, 1864 - Irish Botanist and Lichenologist _____________________________________ |
1st February
Winifred Goldring, 1888 - American Paleontologist Leila Denmark, 1898 - American Paediatrician Muriel Spark, 1918 - Scottish Novelist Vivian Maier, 1926 - American Street Photographer 2nd February Sarah Stevenson, 1841 - American Obstetrician Ayn Rand, 1905 - Russian born Philosopher & Playwright Hella Haasse, 1918 - Dutch Writer 3rd February Elizabeth Blackwell, 1821 - UK/US Physician Gertrude Stein, 1874 - American Writer & Art Collector Helen Stephens, 1918 - American Olympic Athlete 4th February Rosa Parks, 1913 - American Civil Rights Activist Anna Hedvig Büll, 1887 - Estonian Missionary & Humanitarian Ida Lupino, 1918 - Anglo American Actress and Director Betty Friedan, 1921 - American Feminist, Writer & Activist 5th February Belle Starr, 1848 - American Outlaw Kate Bushnell, 1856 - American Writer, Physician & Reformer Grazyna Bacewicz, 1909 - Polish Composer & Violinist 6th February Mary Leakey, 1913 - British Archaeologist & Anthropologist Mary Rudge, 1842 - British Chess Master Ida Straus, 1849 - American Co-owner of Macy's 7th February Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867 - US Writer, Teacher & Pioneer Anita Stewart, 1895 - American Actress and Producer Margaret Fownes-Luttrell, 1726 - British Artist 8th February Rebecca Lee Crumpler, 1831 - African American Physician Kate Chopin, 1850 - American Author Elizabeth Bishop, 1911 - American Poet and Writer 9th February Aletta Jacobs, 1854 - 1st Dutch female Physician Miina Härma, 1864 - Estonian Composer (music) Amy Lowell, 1874 - American Poet 10th February Grace Towns, 1907 - African American Activist and Politician Agnes Mary Clerke, 1842 - Irish Astronomer and Writer Pauline Brunius, 1881 - Swedish Actress and Director Jean Coulthard, 1908 - Canadian Composer and Educator 11th February Lydia Child, 1802 - US Abolitionist & Women's Rights Activist Beulah Louise Henry, 1887 - American Inventor Harriet Ann Jacobs, 1813 - African-American writer 12th February Marie Vassilieff, 1884 - Russian Artist Anna Pavlova, 1881 - Russian Prima Ballerina Joan Mitchell, 1925 - American Abstract Artist 13th February Kate Roberts, 1891 - Welsh Nationalist & Author Sarojini Naidu, 1879 - Indian Freedom Fighter & Politician Patty Berg, 1918 - American Golfer 14th February Margaret E Knight, 1838 - American Inventor Anna Howard Shaw, 1847 - US Suffrage/Temperance Activist Nina Hamnett, 1890 - Welsh Artist and Writer Aida Overton Walker, 1880 - Black American Vaudeville Actress, Dancer & Choreographer 15th February Susan B Anthony, 1820 - American Civil Rights leader Irena Sendler, 1910 - smuggled children from Warsaw ghetto Sophie Bryant, 1850 - Irish mathematician Miep Gies, 1909 - Hid Anne Frank & retrieved diary 16th February Vera Menchik, 1906 - British-Czech Chess Champion Elizabeth Craig, 1883 - Scottish Journalist & Cookery Writer Pamela Colman Smith, 1878 - English American Illustrator 17th February Hilda Hewlett, 1864 - British Aviator & Businesswoman Louisa Lawson, 1848 - Australian Publisher, Suffragist & Feminist Isabelle Eberhardt, 1877 - Swiss Explorer and Writer 18th February Betty Gathergood, 1916 - British Curator Audre Lorde, 1934 - Caribbean-American writer and civil rights activist Helen Gurley Brown, 1922 - American Author and Publisher 19th February Gabriele Münter, 1877 - German Expressionist Painter Lugenia Burns Hope, 1871 - African American Social Reformer Kay Boyle, 1902 - American Writer and Political Activist 20th February Angelina Grimké, 1805 - Politician, abolitionist, suffragist Elizabeth Holloway Marston, 1893 - American Psychologist Marie Rambert, 1888 - Polish born founder of Ballet Rambert Marie Marvingt, 1875 - French Aviator, Mountaineer & Athlete 21st February Elizabeth Webb Nicholls, 1850 - Australian Temperance worker & JP Anaïs Nin, 1903 - Cuban/French/American Writer Thelma Estrin, 1924 - American Computer Scientist Claudia Jones, 1915 - Trinidadian British founder of the Notting Hill Carnival 22nd February Mary Barbour, 1875 - Scottish Activist & Peace Crusader Zitkala-Sa, 1876 - Sioux Writer, Editor, Musician and Activist Olave Baden Powell, 1889 - British Founder of the Girl Guides 23rd February Emma Willard, 1787 - US Women's Rights Activist & Educator Anna Hofman-Uddgren, 1868 - Swedish Actress and Director Jeanne Roques (Musidora), 1889 - French Actress, Writer & Director 24th February Gladys Aylward, 1902 - British Missionary in China Lydia Becker, 1827 - British Suffragist & Scientist Rosalía de Castro, 1837 - Galician Poet Ettie Rout, 1877 - Australia/New Zealand Activist Stella Young, 1982 - Australian Comedian, Journalist & Disability Activist 25th February Ida Lewis, 1842 - American Lighthouse Keeper Essie Coffey, 1941 - Aboriginal Aussie Activist & Film Maker Myra Hess, 1890 - British Pianist & Educator Iriaka Matiu Ratana, 1905 - Maori politician 26th February Dina Appeldoorn, 1884 - Dutch Composer and Pianist Nadezhda Krupskaya, 1869 - Russian Revolutionary Halina Konopacka, 1900 - Polish Olympian & Poet Leela Majumdar, 1908 - Bengali Writer 27th February Alice Hamilton, 1869 - US MD/Occupational Health expert Laura E. Richards, 1850 - American Author Bertha Pappenheim, 1859 - Austrian Feminist Ethelda Bleibtrey, 1902 - American Olympic Swimmer 28th February Mary Lyon, 1797 - American Educator & College Principal Ketti Frings, 1909 - American Author & Playwright Jadwiga Pilsudska-Jaraczewska, 1920 - Polish Pilot 29th February Anne Lee, 1736 - British founder of the Shakers in America Eileen Shanahan, 1924 - American Journalist Augusta Savage, 1892 - Black American Sculptor _____________________________________ |
1st March
Gladys Spellman, 1918 - American Congresswoman Mercedes de Acosta, 1893 - American Poet, Playwright & Author Maaja Ranniku, 1941 - Estonian Chess Master 2nd March Susanna Salter, 1860 - US Politician, Activist & 1st female mayor Dottie Rambo, 1934 - American Gospel Singer Songwriter Tamara Toumanova, 1919 - Russian Prima Ballerina Marija Juric Zagorka, 1873 - Croatian Writer and Journalist 3rd March Grace Lumpkin, 1891 - US Gorky Prize winning Author Madeleine Jarret de Verchères , 1678 - Canadian heroine Sameera Moussa, 1917 - Egyptian Nuclear Scientist 4th March Myrtilla Miner, 1815 - American Abolitionist & Educator Rebecca Gratz, 1781 - American Educator & Philanthropist Barbara Newhall Follett, 1914 - American Author Margaret Osborne duPont, 1918 - American Tennis Player Berta Cáceres, 1972 - Honduran Environmental Activist 5th March Rosa Luxemburg, 1871 - Polish/German philosopher, economist & activist Dora Marsden, 1882 - British Feminist and Suffragette Lynn Margulis, 1938 - American Biologist 6th March Olive Dickason, 1920 - Canadian Historian & Journalist Molla Mallory, 1884 - Norwegian/American Tennis Player Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 - British Poet 7th March Olga Ladyzhenskaya, 1922 - Russian Mathematician Janet Collins, 1917 - African American Ballerina and Choreographer Betty Holberton, 1917 - American Software Engineer 8th March Anne Bonny, 1702 - Irish-American Pirate Josephine Cochrane, 1839 - American Inventor Juana de Ibarbourou, 1892 - Uruguayan Poet Charlotte Whitton, 1896 - Canadian Politician and Feminist Nancy Burley, 1930 - Australian Figure Skater and Coach Beatrice Shilling, 1909 - British Aeronautical Engineer 9th March Gerda Brautigam, 1913 - Dutch Political Journalist (link is in Dutch) Maud Chadburn, 1868 - British Surgeon Margaret Murray Washington, 1865 - African American Educator and Activist Vita Sackville-West, 1892 - British Author and Gardener 10th March Kate Sheppard, 1847 - New Zealand Suffragist Lillian Wald, 1867 - American Nurse & Social Reformer Clare Boothe Luce, 1903 - US Writer, Editor, Politician 11th March Dorothy Schiff, 1903 - American Newspaperwoman Wanda Gág, 1893 - American Author and Illustrator Louise Brough, 1923 - American Tennis Player Hilde Bruch, 1904 - German American Psychoanalyst 12th March Clara Fraser, 1923 - American Political Organiser Rita Angus, 1908 - New Zealand Artist Elaine de Kooning, 1918 - American Artist Mae Young, 1923 - American Wrestler Mary Berners Lee, 1924 - British Mathematician & Computer Scientist 13th March Janet Flanner, 1892 - American Journalist & Writer Nana Meskhidze, 1936 - Georgian Artist Donella Meadows, 1941 - American Environmental Scientist 14th March Emily Murphy, 1868 - Canadian Women's Rights Activist Lucy Hobbs Taylor, 1833 - American Dentist Sylvia Beach, 1887 - American Bookseller and Publisher 15th March Grace Chisholm Young, 1868 - British Mathematician Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1887 - US Businesswoman Madelyn Pugh, 1921 - American TV Producer and Writer 16th March Caroline Herschel, 1750 - German-British Astronomer Rosa Bonheur, 1822 - French Artist Ethel Anderson, 1883 - Australian Poet and Artist Anna Atkins, 1799 - British Botanist and Photographer 17th March Margaret Bondfield, 1873 - 1st UK female Cabinet Minister Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, 1665 - French Musician and Composer Marjory Shedd, 1926 - Canadian Badminton Champion Jeanne Manon Roland, 1754 - French Revolutionary Kalpana Chawla, 1962 - Indian American Astronaut 18th March Alice Cullen, 1891 - UK's first Roman Catholic woman MP Madame de La Fayette, 1634 - French Writer Margaret Tucker, 1904 - Indigenous Australian Activist Verda Welcome, 1907 - African American Politician & Civil Rights Activist 19th March Edith Nourse Rogers, 1881 - US Congresswoman Elżbieta Zawacka, 1909 - Polish Freedom Fighter & Professor Betty Goodwin, 1923 - Canadian Artist Clara Breed, 1906 - American Librarian & Humanitarian Jackie "Moms" Mabley, 1894 - African American Comedian Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, 1890 - African American Sculptor 20th March Maud Menten, 1879 - Canadian biochemist and pathologist Amanda Clement, 1888 - American Baseball Umpire Pamela Harriman, 1920 - US Ambassador to France Tcheng Soumay, 1891 - Chinese Lawyer and Judge 21st March Antonia Maury, 1866 - American Astronomer Dorothea Beale, 1831 - British Suffragist & College Principal Mary Kies, 1752 - 1st American woman to receive a patent 22nd March Ruth Page, 1899 - American Ballerina and Choreographer Elena Lacková, 1921 - Roma/Slovak Writer and Activist Greta Kempton, 1901 - Austrian-American Artist Sabiha Gökçen, 1913 - Turkish Fighter Pilot 23rd March Bette Nesmith Graham, 1924 - US Inventor of liquid paper Emmy Noether, 1882 - German Mathematician Helene Hale, 1918 - Hawaiian Politician 24th March Dorothy Stratton, 1899 - US Director of Women's Coastguard Reserve Dorothy Height, 1912 - African American Activist & Organiser Matilda Joslyn Gage, 1826 - American Activist Olive Schreiner, 1855 - South African Writer & Anti-War Campaigner 25th March Bridget D'Oyly Carte, 1908 - UK Businesswoman Melita Norwood, 1912 - British Civil Servant and KGB Spy Penelope Gilliatt, 1932 - British Novelist and Screenwriter 26th March Elsa Brändström, 1888 - Swedish Nurse & Philanthropist Louise Otto-Peters, 1819 - German Writer, Poet & Activist Jacqueline de Romilly, 1913 - Franco-Greek Philologist 27th March Elsie MacGill, 1905 - Canadian Aircraft Designer Jane Colden, 1724 - American Botanist Virginia Minor, 1824 - American Suffragist Catherine Carswell, 1879 - Scottish Journalist, Writer & Biographer Effa Manley, 1900 - American Baseball Team Owner 28th March Agnes Weston, 1840 - British Founder of the Sailor's Rests Marina Raskova, 1912 - Soviet Pilot and "Night Witch" Vina Mazumdar, 1927 - Indian Academic and Activist 29th March Hanna Reitsch, 1912 - German Aviator & Test Pilot Pearl Bailey, 1918 - African American Singer & Actress Betty Binns Fletcher, 1923 - American Lawyer and Judge 30th March Melanie Klein, 1882 - Austrian/British Psychoanalyst Mary Calkins, 1863 - American Philosopher & Psychologist Brooke Astor, 1902 - American Socialite & Philanthropist 31st March Liz Claiborne, 1929 - Belgian/American Entrepreneur Alexandra Kollontai, 1872 - Russian Ambassador to Norway Faith Leech, 1941 - Australian Swimmer _____________________________________ |
1st April
Sophie Germain, 1776 - French Mathematician & Philosopher Wangari Maathai, 1940 - Kenyan environmental & political activist Alberta Hunter, 1895 - African American Singer-Songwriter 2nd April Maria Merian, 1647 - German naturalist and illustrator Wilhelmine Reichard, 1788 - German Balloonist Irene Mayer Selznick, 1907 - American Film Producer Jayaben Desai, 1933 - Indian/British Workers' Activist 3rd April Mary Carpenter, 1807 - British Educational & Social Reformer Margaret Anglin, 1897 - Canadian Actress, Producer & Director Roza Shanina, 1924 - Russian WW2 Sniper 4th April Margaret Oliphant, 1828 - Scottish Novelist/Historical Writer Catherine Courtney, 1847 - British social worker Dorothea Dix, 1802 - American Mental Health Activist Mary Colter, 1869 - American Architect Marguerite Duras, 1914 - French Writer and Film Director Mildred Fay Jefferson, 1926 - African American Doctor Maya Angelou, 1928 - African American Writer & Activist 5th April Patricia Ford, 1921 - Northern Irish Politician Janet Rowley, 1925 - American Geneticist Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, 1908 - American Author 6th April Rose Schneiderman, 1882 - US Union Leader & Feminist Jeanne Hébuterne, 1898 - French Artist Leonora Carrington, 1917 - British born Mexican Artist 7th April Flora Tristan, 1803 - French Socialist Writer & Activist Gabriela Mistral, 1889 - Chilean Poet & Nobel Prize Winner Marjory Stoneman Douglas, 1890 - US Writer, Activist and Environmentalist Charlotte Maxeke, 1874 - South African Rights Activist 8th April Helen Joseph, 1905 - South African anti-apartheid activist Barbara Bodichon, 1827 - British women's rights activist Marie Hall, 1884 - British Violinist Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick, 1893 - American Parachutist 9th April Helene Lange, 1848 - German Teacher & Women's Rights Advocate Sharan Rani Backliwal, 1929 - Indian Music Scholar Emily Hobhouse, 1860 - British welfare campaigner 10th April Kathleen Major, 1906 - British Historian Frances Perkins, 1880 - American Politician Margaret Clapp, 1910 - American Writer and Scholar 11th April Jane Bolin, 1908 - African American Lawyer Kasturba Gandhi, 1869 - Indian Activist and Teacher Johanna Elberskirchen, 1864 - German Feminist and Activist 12th April Imogen Cunningham, 1883 - American Photographer Keiko Fukuda, 1913 - Japanese-American Martial Artist Beverly Cleary, 1916 - American Author 13th April Nella Larsen, 1891 - African American Nurse and Author Phyllis Fraser, 1916 - American Actress, Journalist & Publisher Madalyn Murray O'Hair, 1919 - American Intellectual & Atheist 14th April Anne Sullivan Macy, 1866 - Blind Irish-American teacher Elizabeth Huckaby, 1905 - American Educator Barbara Anderson, 1926 - New Zealand Author 15th April Norma Merrick Sklarek, 1928 - African American Architect Corrie ten Boom, 1892 - Dutch Resistance Worker Helene Hanff, 1916 - American Author and Screenwriter 16th April Esther Pariseau, 1823 - Canadian Nun and Social Reformer Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, 1755 - French Artist Sarah Kirsch, 1935 - German Poet Dorothy P. Lathrop, 1891 - American Writer and Illustrator 17th April Isabel Barrows, 1845 - US Administrator and Reformer Karen Blixen, 1885 - Danish Author Regina Ghazaryan, 1915 - Armenian Artist Sirimavo Bandaranaike, 1916 - Sri Lankan Prime Minister 18th April Jessie Street, 1889 - Australian Feminist & Human Rights Campaigner Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, 1874 - Croatian Writer Margaret Hassan, 1945 - Murdered Irish-Iraqi Aid Worker 19th April Sarah Bagley, 1805 - American Women's Rights Advocate Rawya Ateya, 1926 - Egyptian Politician Anna Lee Aldred, 1921 - American Jockey Margot McDonald, 1943 - Scottish Politician 20th April Dinah Craik, 1826 - British Poet and Novelist Caresse Crosby, 1891 - American patron of the arts Irene Lieblich, 1923 - Polish-American Artist 21st April Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1814 - British Philanthropist Raden Ajeng Kartini, 1879 - Indonesian Women's Rights Activist Hilda Hilst, 1930 - Brazilian Playwright, Poet and Novelist Geertruida Wijsmuller, 1896 - Dutch Resistance Fighter 22nd April Rita Levi-Montalcini, 1909 - Italian Neurologist & Nobel Prize winner Emily Davis, 1830 - British Feminist and Activist Laura Gilpin, 1891 - American Photographer 23rd April Ngaio Marsh, 1895 - New Zealand Writer & Theatre Director Pandita Ramabai, 1858 - Indian Social Reformer and Activist Ethel Smyth, 1858 - British Suffragist and Composer 24th April Susanna Bökönyi, 1879 - Hungarian Circus Performer Lyubov Popova, 1889 - Russian Artist Doris Burn, 1923 - American Author and Illustrator Madge Easton Anderson, 1896 - Scottish Lawyer (1st in UK) 25th April Sally Salminen, 1906 - Finnish Author Maud Hart Lovelace, 1892 - American Author Ella Fitzgerald, 1917 - African American Singer Melissa Hayden, 1923 - Canadian Ballerina 26th April Erminnie Platt, 1836 - American Anthropologist Ma Rainey, 1886 - African American Singer and Theatre Owner Anita Loos, 1889 - American Screenwriter, Playwright & Author Fanny Blankers-Koen, 1918 - Dutch Athlete Jeanne Sauvé, 1922 - Canadian Journalist and Politician 27th April Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759 - British Writer and Philosopher Jessie Redmon Fauset, 1882 - African American Editor & Writer Coretta Scott King, 1927 - African American Musician and Civil Rights Activist Sheila Scott, 1922 - British Aviator 28th April Odette Hallowes, 1912 - French born British Spy Lucy Booth, 1868 - Salvation Army Commander Hélène de Pourtalès, 1868 - Swiss Olympic Sailor Harper Lee, 1926 - American Author Hertha Marks Ayrton, 1854 - British Engineer & Inventor 29th April Elisaveta Bagrjana, 1893 - Bulgarian Poet Mary Petty, 1899 - American Illustrator Maya Deren, 1917 - Ukrainian/American Avante Garde Director Zewditu, 1876 - Empress of Ethiopia 30th April Gerda Lerner, 1920 - American Historian, Author & Teacher Alice B. Toklas, 1877 - American-French Businesswoman Edith Fowke, 1913 - Canadian Folklorist _____________________________________ |
1st May
Emily Stowe, 1831 - Canadian Physician & Suffragist Martha Jane Canary, 1852 - Frontierswoman (Calamity Jane) Judith Sargent Murray, 1751 - Writer and Women's Rights Advocate Cecilia Beaux, 1855 - American Artist 2nd May Aileen Riggin, 1906 - American Olympic Swimmer & Diver Lisa Bellear, 1961 - Aboriginal Australian Writer, Photographer and Activist Doris Fisher, 1915 - American Singer and Songwriter 3rd May Golda Meir, 1898 - Israeli Prime Minister Septima Clark, 1898 - African American Civil Rights Activist Dodie Smith, 1896 - British Novelist and Playwright Maryam Mirzakhani, 1977 - Iranian Mathematician 4th May Marianna Martines, 1744 - Austrian Musician and Composer Jane Jacobs, 1916 - US/Canadian Urban Journalist and Activist Audrey Hepburn, 1929 - British/Belgian Actress and Humanitarian 5th May Nellie Bly, 1864 - American Journalist Iryna Vilde, 1907 - Ukranian Writer Pritilata Waddedar, 1911 - Indian Revolutionary Sylvia Fedoruk, 1927 - Canadian Physicist Mavis Batey, 1921 - British WW2 Codebreaker 6th May Phebe Ann Coffin, 1829 - American ordained Minister Winifred Brunton, 1880 - British/South African Artist 7th May Sally Liberman Smith, 1929 - American Educator Angela Carter, 1940 - British Novelist and Journalist Totie Fields, 1930 - American Comedian Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, 1927 - German/American Author 8th May Mary Lou Williams, 1910 - American Pianist and Composer Julieta Campos, 1932 - Cuban-Mexican Writer Mary Q Steele, 1922 - American Author & Naturalist 9th May Sophie Scholl, 1921 - German Resistance worker Lilian Mary Baylis, 1874 - British Founder of the Old Vic Mary Scheier, 1908 - American Ceramicist Fay Kanin, 1917 - US Screenwriter, Playwright & Producer 10th May Kay Petre, 1903 - Canadian Racing Driver Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, 1900 - English/US Astronomer Elvira Popescu, 1894 - Romanian Actress & Theatre Director 11th May Eleanor Anne Ormerod, 1828 - British Entomologist Laskarina Bouboulina, 1771 - Greek naval commander Clare Atwood, 1866 - British Artist Jaqueline Cochran, 1906 - US Hairdresser and Pilot 12th May Florence Nightingale, 1820 - British Statistician, Nurse and Social Reformer Dorothy Hodgkin, 1910 - UK Chemist & Nobel Prize winner Mary Kay Ash, 1918 - American Businesswoman Beryl Burton, 1937 - British Racing Cyclist 13th May Josephine Butler, 1828 - British Feminist & Social Reformer Daphne Du Maurier, 1907 - British Author T. Balasaraswati, 1918 - Indian Dancer 14th May Marguerite Fawdry, 1912 - British Museum Curator & Author Betty Jeffrey, 1908 - Australian WW2 Nurse and Author Sophie Kurys, 1925 - American Baseball Player 15th May Williamina Fleming, 1857 - Scottish Astronomer Katherine Anne Porter, 1890 - American Writer & Journalist Maria Reiche, 1903 - German Mathematician & Archaeologist 16th May Maria Gaetana Agnesi, 1718 - Italian Mathematician and Philosopher Tamara de Lempicka, 1898 - Polish Art Deco Painter Olga Bergholz, 1910 - Russian Poet and Activist 17th May Anna Brownell Jameson, 1794 - Irish Writer Dorothy Richardson, 1873 - British Author and Journalist Virginie Loveling, 1836 - Belgian Writer 18th May Gertrude Käsebier, 1852 - American Photographer Gerda Boyesen, 1922 - Norwegian Psychologist Jeanie Macpherson, 1887 - US Actress, Writer & Director 19th May Nancy Astor, 1879 - 1st woman to sit as British MP (video) Nellie Melba, 1861 - Australian Opera Singer Lorraine Hansberry, 1930 - African American Playwright (video) Yuri Kochiyama, 1921 - Japanese American Activist 20th May Sigrid Undset, 1882 - Norwegian Novelist & Nobel Prize winner Annie M. G. Schmidt, 1911 - Dutch Writer and Librarian Ondina Valla, 1916 - Italian Olympic Athlete Hideko Maehata, 1914 - Japanese Olympic Swimmer Betty Louise Turtle, 1941 - Australian Astronomer 21st May Elizabeth Fry, 1780 - British Prison Reformer Frances Densmore, 1867 - American Anthropologist Mary Anning, 1799 - British Paleontologist & Fossil Hunter Regina M. Anderson, 1901 - African American Librarian & Activist 22nd May Mary Cassatt, 1844 - American Impressionist Painter Amalia Lindegren, 1814 - Swedish Artist Rita Cetina Gutiérrez, 1846 - Mexican Teacher, Poet, Feminist 23rd May Barbara Ward, 1914 - British Economist Ceija Stojka, 1933 - Romani-Austrian Writer, Painter and Musician Margaret Fuller, 1810 - American Journalist Isabella Ford, 1855 - British Social Reformer & Suffragist 24th May Lillian Gilbreth, 1876 - American Industrial Engineer Helen Taussig, 1898 - American Paediatric Cardiologist Sylvia Daoust, 1902 - Canadian Sculptor Suzanne Lenglen, 1899 - French Tennis Player 25th May Marie Menken, 1909 - American Film-maker & Painter Phyllis Gotlieb, 1926 - Canadian Novelist and Poet Aili Jõgi, 1931 - Estonian Freedom Fighter 26th May Dorothea Lange, 1895 - American Photojournalist Muriel McQueen Fergusson, 1899 - Canadian Senator Henriette Roosenburg, 1916 - Dutch Journalist 27th May Rachel Carson, 1907 - American Marine Biologist Catherine Cranston, 1849 - Scottish Tea Rooms Owner Amelia Bloomer, 1818 - American Women's Rights & Temperance Advocate 28th May Eliza Ann Gardner, 1831 - American Abolitionist & "Underground Railroad" worker Ruby Payne-Scott, 1912 - Australian Astronomer Maeve Binchy, 1940 - Irish Writer 29th May Diana Morgan, 1908 - Welsh Playwright and Screenwriter Alfonsina Storni, 1892 - Swiss born Argentinian Poet Pepper Paire Davis, 1924 - American Baseball Player 30th May Alice Stopford Green, 1847 - Irish Historian & Nationalist Elly Beinhorn, 1907 - German Aviator Germaine Tillion, 1907 - French Ethnologist & Resistance worker 31st May Emily Bissell, 1861 - American Social Worker & Activist Louise Ferrenc, 1804 - French Composer and Pianist _____________________________________ |
1st June
Julie Campbell, 1908 - American Author & Literary Agent Hazel Dickens, 1935 - US Feminist, Activist, Bluegrass Singer Katerina Gogou, 1940 - Greek Anarchist Poet 2nd June Dorothy West, 1907 - African American Writer Lotte Reiniger, 1899 - German Film Director and Animator Ruth Atkinson, 1918 - Canadian/American Cartoonist Kathryn Tucker Windham, 1918 - Alabama Storyteller Betty Freeman, 1921 - US Photographer & Philanthropist June Callwood, 1924 - Canadian Journalist & Social Activist 3rd June Rosa Chacel, 1898 - Spanish Writer and Feminist Memphis Minnie, 1897 - American Singer-Songwriter Eleanor Coade, 1733 - British Businesswoman 4th June Miina Sillanpää, 1866 - Finnish Member of Parliament Sadie Bonnell, 1888 - British WW1 Ambulance Driver Mabel Lucie Attwell, 1879 - British Illustrator Alla Nazimova, 1879 - Crimean American Actress & Producer 5th June Ruth Benedict, 1887 - American anthropologist and folklorist Elena Piscopia, 1646 - Italian Philosopher and PhD Laurali Rose Wright, 1939 - Canadian Author 6th June Sarah Parker Remond, 1826 - African American Physician & Abolitionist Eliza Orzeszkowa, 1841 - Polish Writer Ninette de Valois, 1898 - Irish Dancer and Choreographer 7th June Virginia Apgar, 1909 - American Anaesthesiologist Amelia Edwards, 1831 - British Writer & Egyptologist Elizabeth Bowen, 1899 - Irish Writer Marion Post, 1910 - American Photographer 8th June Charlotte Scott, 1858 - British Mathematician and Educator Alicia Stott, 1860 - Irish Mathematician Marguerite Yourcenar, 1903 - Belgian Novelist & Essayist 9th June Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, 1836 - British Physician & Feminist Helen Marot, 1865 - American Social Reformer Bertha von Suttner, 1843 - Austrian Nobel Peace prize winner Phyllis Ann Wallace, Black American Economist and Activist 10th June Hattie McDaniel, 1895 - 1st African American Oscar winner Lin Huiyin, 1904 - Chinese Architect and Writer 11th June Julia Margaret Cameron, 1815 - British Photographer Millicent Fawcett, 1847 - British Suffragist and Reformer Jeanette Rankin, 1880 - 1st woman in the US Congress Angela Forbes, 1876 - original Forces Sweetheart Rachael Heyhoe Flint, 1939 - British Cricketer 12th June Eva Crane, 1912 - British Bee Scientist Anne Frank, 1929 - German/Dutch Diarist Harriet Martineau, 1802 - British Sociologist and Writer Djuna Barnes, 1892 - American Writer and Illustrator Margherita Hack, 1922 - Italian Astrophysicist & Activist Gladys Hansen, 1925 - American Librarian & Archivist 13th June Chrystal Macmillan, 1872 - Scottish lawyer, feminist & pacifist Dorothy L. Sayers, 1893 - British Writer and Humanist Jeanne-Claude, 1935 - Moroccan Environmental Artist 14th June Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1811 - American Author Margaret Bourke-White, 1904 - American Photographer Winifred Lubell, 1914 - American Illustrator and Activist 15th June Hilda Terry, 1914 - American Cartoonist Margaret Ives Abbott, 1876 - American Olympic Golfer Olga Erteszek, 1916 - Polish American Fashion Designer 16th June Barbara McClintock, 1902 - US Nobel Prize winning Geneticist Bessie Rayner Parkes, 1829 - British Feminist & Campaigner Mary Katherine Goddard, 1738 - US Publisher & Postmistress Natalia Goncharova, 1881 - Russian Avant-garde Artist 17th June Ruth Wakefield, 1903 - US Inventor of Chocolate Chip Cookie Susan La Flesche, 1865 - Native American Doctor & Reformer Flora Finch, 1867 - UK/USA Actress, Comedian & Producer 18th June Sylvia Porter, 1913 - American Economist and Journalist Ann Mara, 1929 - US Businesswoman & "1st Lady of Football" 19th June Laura Z. Hobson, 1900 - American Writer Pauline Kael, 1919 - American Film Critic Merata Mita, 1942 - Māori Film Maker and Activist 20th June Helen Miller Shepard, 1868 - American Philanthropist Marceline Desbordes-Valmore, 1786 - French Poet Zelda Mishkovsky, 1914 - Israeli Poet Helena Rasiowa, 1917 - Polish Mathematician 21st June Benazir Bhutto, 1953 - Pakistani Prime Minister Clara Immerwahr, 1870 - German Chemist Daisy Turner, 1883 - African American Storyteller and Poet Mary McCarthy, 1912 - American Writer and Political Activist 22nd June Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1906 - American Author & Aviator Cicely Saunders, 1918 - British founder of the Hospice Katherine Dunham, 1909 - African American Dancer, Choreographer & Activist Octavia Butler, 1947 - African American Science Fiction Writer 23rd June Anna Akhmatova, 1889 - Russian Poet Winifred Holtby, 1898 - English novelist and journalist Wilma Rudolph, 1940 - African American Athlete 24th June Pearl Witherington, 1914 - British SOE Agent Mary Wesley, 1912 - British Novelist Mildred Ladner Thompson, 1918 - American Journalist Margaret Olley, 1923 - Australian Artist Joan Clarke, 1917 - British Linguist & cryptanalyst 25th June Virginia Lacy Jones, 1912 - African American Librarian Celia Franca, 1921 - Director of Canadian National Ballet Dorothy Gilman, 1923 - American Mystery Author 26th June Pearl S. Buck, 1892 - American Writer Violette Szabo, 1921 - French-British WW2 secret agent Dorothy Fuldheim, 1893 - American Journalist & TV Anchor 27th June Helen Keller, 1860 - US Deafblind Writer & Lecturer Guilhermina Suggia, 1885 - Portugese Cellist Kate Carew, 1869 - American Caricaturist and Interviewer 28th June Maria Goeppert-Mayer, 1906 - German-American Physicist Esther Forbes, 1891 - American Pulitzer Prize winning Author Stefi Geyer, 1888 - Hungarian Violinist & Teacher 29th June Virginia Pope, 1885 - American Fashion Editor Julia Lathrop, 1858 - American Social Reformer Yvonne Lefébure, 1898 - French Pianist and Teacher 30th June Monica Maurice, 1908 - British Industrialist Lena Horne, 1917 - American Singer & Civil Rights Activist Eleanor Ross Taylor, 1920 - American Poet Elizabeth Timothy, 1702 - American Newspaper Publisher (thanks to C.Davis for this one) _____________________________________ |
1st July
Amy Johnson, 1903 - British Aviator Alice Guy, 1873 - French Film-maker and Director Dorothea Mackellar, 1885 - Australian Author and Poet Amber Reeves, 1887 - New Zealand/British Feminist Writer 2nd July Harriet Brooks, 1876 - Canada's first female nuclear scientist Lily Braun, 1865 - German Feminist Writer Lydia Mei, 1896 - Estonian Artist 3rd July Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 1860 - US Sociologist & Author Ruth Crawford Seeger, 1901 - American Composer Fontella Bass, 1940 - African American R&B soul singer 4th July Henrietta Swan Leavitt, 1868 - American Astronomer Jessie Ackermann, 1857 - American Social Reformer Yvonne B Miller, 1934 - African American Senator 5th July Clara Zetkin, 1857 - German Activist, organised 1st International Women's Day Wanda Landowska, 1879 - Polish-French Harpsichordist Louise Jenkins, 1888 - American Astronomer 6th July Annette Kellerman, 1886 - Australian Swimmer Frederica Sagor Maas, 1900 - American Playwright and Author Frida Kahlo, 1907 - Mexican Artist 7th July Lillien Jane Martin, 1851 - American Psychologist Doris McCarthy, 1910 - Canadian Artist Margaret Walker, 1915 - African American Poet and Writer Edmonia Lewis, 1844 - African/Native American Sculptor 8th July Artemisia Gentileschi, 1593 - Italian Painter Käthe Kollwitz, 1867 - German Sculptor, Printmaker & Painter Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, 1926 - Swiss American Psychiatrist Raquel Correa, 1934 - Chilean Journalist 9th July Peggy Braithwaite, 1919 - British Lighthouse Keeper Ann Radcliffe, 1764 - British Author June Jordan, 1936 - African American Writer and Educator Mercedes Sosa, 1935 - Argentinian Folk Singer & Activist 10th July Thérèse Casgrain, 1896 - Canadian Reformer & Politician Mildred Benson, 1905 - American Journalist & Author Judith Jasmin, 1916 - Canadian Journalist Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 1921 - Founder of Special Olympics 11th July Liza Lehmann, 1862 - British Operatic Composer Annie Armstrong, 1850 - American Missionary Dorothy Wilde, 1895 - Anglo Irish Bon Vivant 12th July Johanna Moosdorf , 1911 - German Author Lyudmila Pavlichenko, 1916 - Russian WW2 Sniper Beah Richards, 1920 - African American Writer & Actress 13th July Tillie Ehrlich Lewis, 1901 - American Businesswoman Emma Asson, 1889 - Estonian Politician Kay Linaker, 1913 - American Actress & Screenwriter 14th July Gertrude Bell, 1868 - British Archaeologist and Spy Kate M Gordon, 1861 - American Suffragist & Activist Juliette Wytsman, 1866 - Belgian Painter 15th July Maggie L. Walker, 1867 - African American Businesswoman Emmeline Pankhurst, 1858 - British Activist & Suffragette Dorothy Fields, 1905 - American Lyricist Iris Murdoch, 1919 - Irish Author and Philosopher 16th July Ida B. Wells, 1862 - African American journalist Kathleen Norris, 1880 - American Author Anna Vyrubova, 1884 - Russian Writer Frances Horwich, 1907 - US Educator & Presenter 17th July Berenice Abbott, 1898 - American Photographer Christina Stead, 1902 - Australian Author Phyllis Diller, 1917 - American Comedian 18th July Nathalie Sarraute, 1900 - Russian-French Writer Pauline Viardot, 1821 - French Composer and Singer Margaret Brown, 1867 - American "unsinkable" Activist Shirley Strickland, 1925 - Australian Athlete 19th July Rosalyn Sussman, 1921 - US Physicist & Nobel Prize winner Marianna Auenbrugger, 1759 - Austrian Pianist and Composer Eve Merriam, 1916 - American Poet and Writer Mary Ann Bickerdyke, 1817 - American Hospital Administrator 20th July Veronica Wedgwood, 1910 - British Historian Cindy Walker, 1918 - American Country Singer-Songwriter Stephenie McMillan, 1942 - British Set Decorator 21st July Anna Adams Gordon, 1853 - US Temperance Worker Sara Carter, 1898 - American Singer-Songwriter 22nd July Emma Lazarus, 1849 - American Poet Hella Wuolijoki, 1886 - Estonian/Finnish Writer Begum Shaista Ikramullah, 1915 - Pakistani Diplomat 23rd July Elspeth Huxley, 1907 - British Polymath, Environmentalist & Writer Laurel Martyn, 1916 - Australian Ballerina & Choreographer Vera Rubin, 1928 - American Astronomer 24th July Amelia Earhart, 1897 - American Aviator Bella Abzug, 1920 - American Lawyer & Social Activist Essie Summers, 1912 - New Zealand Author 25th July Flora Adams Darling, 1840 - American Author Rosalind Franklin, 1920 - British Biophysicist Jane Frank, 1918 - American Artist 26th July Irena Iłłakowicz, 1906 - Polish Intelligence Agent Ana María Matute, 1925 - Spanish Writer Bernice Rubens, 1923 - Welsh Teacher, Film Maker & Author 27th July Jeanne Baret, 1740 - French Explorer Elizabeth Hardwick, 1916 - American Critic and Writer Vera Karalli, 1889 - Russian Ballerina and Choreographer 28th July Beatrix Potter, 1866 - British Author Lucy Burns, 1879 - American Suffragist Barbara La Marr, 1896 - American Actress and Screenwriter Aenne Burda, 1909 - German Publisher 29th July Diana Vreeland, 1903 - American Magazine Editor Katerina Taikon, 1932 - Swedish Roma Writer and Activist Sophie Menter, 1846 - German Pianist and Composer Mary Lee Settle, 1918 - American Author 30th July Emily Bronte, 1818 - English novelist and poet Fatima Jinnah, 1893 - Pakistani Stateswoman Maria Anna Mozart, 1751 - Austrian Musician and Composer Alicia Amherst, 1865 - British Horticulturalist & Author 31st July Grete Gulbransson, 1882 - Austrian Writer and Poet Mary Vaux Walcott, 1860 - American Artist and Naturalist Stephanie Kwolek, 1923 - American Chemist and Engineer _____________________________________ |
1st August
Sarah Robinson, 1834 - UK founder of the Soldier's Institute Mary Harris Jones, 1837 - Irish/American Activist Kamla Nehru, 1899 - Indian Freedom Fighter Jackie Ormes, 1911 - Black American Illustrator & Cartoonist 2nd August Pauline Hall, 1890 - Norwegian Composer and Music Critic Rowena Cade, 1893 - British Theatrical Visionary Mary Hamman, 1907 - American Writer and Editor 3rd August Maggie Kuhn, 1905 - American Founder of the Grey Panthers Regina Jonas, 1902 - German Rabbi Cécile Aubry, 1928 - French Actress, Director & Screenwriter 4th August Hedda Sterne, 1910 - Romanian Artist Helen Thomas, 1920 - American Journalist 5th August Mary Ritter Beard, 1876 - American Historian and Archivist Gertrude Rush, 1880 - African-American Lawyer Selma Diamond, 1920 - Canadian Actress and Screenwriter Maggie Gee, 1923 - Chinese American Physicist & Airforce Pilot 6th August Louella Parsons, 1881 - American Columnist and Screenwriter Elisabeth Beresford, 1926 - British Author 7th August Elizabeth Flynn, 1890 - US labor leader, activist, and feminist Dorothy Walton, 1909 - Canadian Badminton Player Felice Bryant, 1925 - American Songwriter 8th August Florence Bailey, 1863 - US ornithologist and nature writer Emilie Flygare-Carlén, 1807 - Swedish Author Esther Hobart Morris, 1814 - American Justice of the Peace Cécile Chaminade, 1857 - French Composer and Pianist Sophia Duleep Singh, 1876 - Punjabi British Suffragette Esma Redžepova, 1943 - Macedonian Romani Singer and Humanitarian 9th August Evelina Haverfield, 1867 - British Suffragette & Activist Tove Jansson, 1914 - Finnish Author and Artist Paula Kent Meehan, 1931 - American Businesswoman 10th August Irene Steer, 1889 - British Olympic Swimmer Era Bell Thompson, 1905 - African American Journalist & Editor Rica Erickson, 1908 - Australian Naturalist, Author & Artist Dolores Alexander, 1931 - American Activist and Writer 11th August Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs, 1912 - German Astronomer Louise Bogan, 1897 - American Poet and Editor Enid Blyton, 1897 - British Author 12th August Edith Hamilton, 1867 - German American Educator Helena Blavatsky, 1831 - Russian Theosophist Radclyffe Hall, 1880 - British Poet, Writer and Activist Zerna Sharp, 1889 - American Educator and Author 13th August Lucy Stone, 1818 - American Abolitionist and Suffragist Annie Oakley, 1860 - American Sharpshooter Ellen Osiier, 1890 - Danish Olympic Fencer 14th August Sibilla Aleramo, 1876 - Italian Author and Feminist Gisela Richter, 1882 - British Archaeologist and Art Historian Alice Rivaz, 1901 - Swiss Author and Feminist 15th August Gerty Cori, 1896 - American Biochemist & Nobel Prize winner Edith Nesbit, 1858 - British Author Marion Bauer, 1882 - US Composer, Writer & Music Critic Bridget Mason, 1818 - African American Nurse & Entrpreneur Laura Annie Willson, 1877 - British Engineer & Housebuilder 16th August Georgette Heyer, 1902 - British Novelist Frances Buss, 1827 - British Education Reformer Elsie Inglis, 1864 - British Doctor & Suffragist 17th August Clara Meijer-Wichmann, 1885 - German Anarchist & Feminist Mary Cain, 1904 - American Newspaper Editor Bronislawa Wajs "Papusza", 1908 - Polish Romani Poet Frederika Bremer, 1801 - Finnish/Swedish Writer & Feminist 18th August Nettie Palmer, 1885 - Australian Author and Literary Critic Vijayalaxmi Pandit, 1900 - Indian Diplomat and Politician Margaret Murie, 1902 - American Conservationist Lydia Litvyak, 1921 - Russian WW2 Fighter Pilot 19th August Coco Chanel, 1883 - French Fashion Designer Ellen Willmott, 1858 - English Horticulturalist Rose Heilbron, 1914 - 1st female Judge at the Old Bailey Anna Terruwe, 1911 - Dutch Psychiatrist 20th August Jeanne Stern, 1908 - French/German Writer & Translator Ellen Roosevelt, 1868 - American Tennis Champion Jacqueline Susann, 1918 - American Author 21st August Kate Loder, 1825 - English composer and pianist Eleanor Davies-Colley, 1874 - British Surgeon MM Kaye, 1908 - British Writer Judy Grable, 1935 - American Professional Wrestler 22nd August Dorothy Parker, 1893 - American Writer, Critic & Satirist Leni Riefenstahl, 1902 - German Director & Photographer Mary McGrory, 1918 - American Journalist 23rd August Malvina Reynolds, 1900 - US singer-songwriter and activist Sarah Frances Whiting, 1847 - US Physicist & Astronomer Hannah Frank, 1908 - Scottish Artist and Sculptor 24th August Jean Rhys, 1890 - British Writer Ruth Schaumann , 1899 - German Poet, Sculptor & Illustrator Elizabeth Lee Hazen, 1885 - American Microbiologist Lavinia Fontana, 1552 - Italian Artist 25th August Dorothea Tanning, 1910 - American Artist and writer Zsuzsa Körmöczy, 1924 - Hungarian Tennis Player Thea Astley, 1925 - Australian Author Althea Gibson, 1927 - African American Sportswoman 26th August Dora Gabe, 1886 - Bulgarian Poet Elizebeth Friedman, 1892 - American Cryptanalyst Zona Gale, 1874 - Pulitzer Prize winning Author Geraldine Ferraro, 1935 - American Lawyer and Politician 27th August Katharine McCormick, 1875 - US Biologist, Suffragist & Philanthropist Halet Çambel, 1916 - Turkish Athlete, Activist, Archaeologist Rosalie Wahl, 1924 - American Judge 28th August Tasha Tudor, 1915 - American Illustrator & Author Janet Frame, 1924 - New Zealand Author Lida Scott Howell, 1859 - American Archery Champion 29th August Anna Ella Carroll, 1815 - American politician and lobbyist Salme Dutt, 1888 - British Political Activist Dinah Washington, 1924 - African American Singer & Pianist 30th August Mary Shelley, 1797 - British Writer Nancy Wake, 1912 - British/NZ/Australian Agent, WW2 Virginia Lee Burton, 1909 - American Author & Illustrator Bertha Parker Cody, 1907 - Native American Archaeologist Molly Ivins, 1944 - American Columnist & Humourist 31st August Maria Montessori, 1870 - Italian Physician & Educator Amrita Pritam, 1919 - Punjabi Writer and Poet Agnes Bulmer, 1775 - English Poet Josephine Ruffin, 1842 - African American Publisher & Activist _____________________________________ |
1st September
Elizabeth Harrison, 1849 - American educator Harriet Shaw Weaver, 1876 - British Editor & Political Activist Hilda Hänchen, 1919 - German Physicist 2nd September Caroline Schelling, 1763 - German Intellectual and Writer Liliʻuokalani, 1838 - Hawaiian Songwriter and Queen Lucretia Peabody Hale, 1820 - American Author & Journalist Lily Poulett-Harris, 1873 - Australian Cricketer 3rd September Dixy Lee Ray, 1914 - US marine biologist & environmentalist Mary Parker Follett, 1868 - US social worker & management consultant Sarah Orne Jewett, 1849 - American Novelist and Poet Sally Benson, 1897 - American Screenwriter and Author Marguerite Higgins, 1920 - American War Correspondent Olive Edis, 1876 - British WW1 Photographer 4th September Naima Wifstrand, 1890 - Swedish Actress and Director Mary Renault, 1905 - British South African Writer 5th September Amy Beach, 1867 - American Composer & Pianist Esme Beringer, 1875 - British Actress and Swordswoman Helen Creighton, 1899 - Canadian Folklorist Vera Bradford, 1904 - Australian Pianist and Teacher 6th September Jane Addams, 1860 - settlement house reformer, pacifist, women's rights advocate Frances Wright, 1795 - Scottish American Abolitionist & Reformer Catharine Beecher, 1800 - American Educator Maria Zakrzewska, 1829 - German American Physician Zelia Nuttall, 1857 - US Archaeologist & Anthropologist 7th September Grandma Moses, 1860 - American Folk Artist Louise Suggs, 1923 - American Golfer Laura Ashley, 1925 - Welsh Designer & Businesswoman 8th September Mimi Parent, 1924 - Canadian Surrealist Artist Dorothy Price, 1890 - Irish Doctor Maria Lassnig, 1919 - Austrian Artist 9th September Mary Hunter Austin, 1868 - US Nature Writer & Feminist Delilah L. Beasley, 1871 - African American Historian and Journalist Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, 1872 - Indian Social Reformer 10th September Alice Brown Davis, 1852 - 1st female Native American Chief Marianne Werefkin, 1860 - Russian Impressionist Painter Elsa Schiaparelli, 1890 - Italian Fashion Designer 11th September Asta Nielsen, 1881 - Danish Actress & Studio Owner Mary Watson Whitney, 1847 - American Astronomer Jessica Mitford, 1917 - British American Writer & Activist 12th September Irène Joliot-Curie, 1897 - French Scientist, Nobel Prize winner Han Suyin, 1917 - Eurasian Physician & Author Marya Zaturenska, 1902 - Ukranian American Poet 13th September Laura Secord, 1775 - Canadian Heroine Clara Schumann, 1819 - German Musician and Composer Amelie "Melli" Beese, 1886 - German Aviator 14th September Margaret Sanger, 1879 - American birth control activist Alice Tully, 1902 - US music promoter & philanthropist Mae Boren Axton, 1914 - American Teacher, DJ & Songwriter Phyllis Frost, 1917 - Australian Welfare Worker 15th September Agatha Christie, 1890 - British Crime Writer Heda Kovály, 1919 - Czech Writer Fawn M Brodie, 1915 - American Writer & Biographer 16th September Nadia Boulanger, 1887 - French Musician and Conductor Louise Boyd, 1887 - American Arctic Explorer MS Subbulakshmi, 1916 - Indian Musician and Actress 17th September Bea Miles, 1902 - Australian Writer and Eccentric Nadezhda Durova, 1783 - Russian Cavalry Soldier Elizabeth Enright, 1909 - American Writer and Illustrator 18th September Doris Blackburn, 1889 - Australian Activist and Politician Kate Booth, 1858 - Salvation Army Captain Maria de la Cruz, 1912 - Chilean Activist, Journalist, Politician 19th September Sarah Delany, 1889 - African American Civil Rights Activist Mabel Vernon, 1883 - American Pacifist and Suffragist Lovie Austin, 1887 - African American Bandleader & Musician 20th September Maria Baers, 1883 - Belgian Social Worker & Feminist Kate Harrington, 1831 - American Teacher, Writer & Poet Stevie Smith, 1902 - British Novelist and Poet 21st September Phyllis Nicolson, 1917 - British Mathematician Helen Foster Snow, 1907 - American Journalist 22nd September Louise McKinney, 1868 - Canadian Women's Rights Activist Elizabeth Simcoe, 1762 - Canadian Artist and Diarist Christabel Pankhurst, 1880 - British Suffragette Ellen Church, 1904 - American "flying nurse" Lillian Chestney, 1913 - American Illustrator and Artist Junko Tabei, 1939 - Japanese Mountaineer 23rd September Victoria Woodhull, 1838 - American Women's Rights Activist Mary Church Terrell, 1863 - African American Activist Louise Nevelson, 1899 - American Sculptor 24th September Cheryl Crawford, 1902 - US Theatre Producer & Director Lottie Dod, 1871 - British Tennis Prodigy Ruth Amonette, 1916 - Vice President of IBM Frances E. Watkins Harper, 1825 - African American Poet and Abolitionist Esther Eng, 1914 - Chinese American Film Director 25th September Phyllis Pearsall, 1906 - created the A-Z of London Olive Ann Beech, 1904 - U.S. aviator and businesswoman May Sutton, 1886 - British-American Tennis Player Jacqueline Audry, 1908 - French Film Director 26th September Mary Russell, 1865 - British Aviator and Ornithologist Edith Abbott, 1876 - American Economist & Social Worker Suzanne Belperron, 1900 - French Jewellery Designer 27th September Grazia Deledda, 1871 - Italian Writer & Nobel Prize winner Corinne Roosevelt, 1861 - American Poet and Public Speaker Rosa Lewis, 1867 - British Hotelier 28th September Frances Willard, 1839 - American Temperance Activist Kate Douglas Wiggin, 1856 - American Educator & Author Maria Franziska von Trapp, 1914 - Austrian American Singer and Missionary 29th September Caroline Yale, 1848 - American Educator of the Deaf Elizabeth Gaskell, 1810 - British Writer and Novelist Janet Powell, 1942 - Australian Politician 30th September Wilhelmina Drucker, 1847 - Dutch Feminist and Activist Anna Jarvis, 1832 - US Reformer and Community Organizer Thelma Terry, 1901 - American Bandleader & Bassist _____________________________________ |
1st October
Annie Besant, 1847 - UK women's rights activist and writer Kathleen Ollerenshaw, 1912 - British Mathematician Faith Baldwin, 1893 - American Novelist 2nd October Martha Brookes Hutcheson, 1871 - US Landscape Architect Elizabeth Montagu, 1718 - British Literary Hostess & Writer Ruth Cheney Streeter, 1895 - US Marine Corps Lieut.Colonel 3rd October Annie Horniman, 1860 - British Theatre Patron & Manager Sophie Treadwell, 1885 - American Playwright and Journalist Natalie Carlson, 1906 - American Children's Author 4th October Juliette Adam, 1836 - French Author and Feminist Dorothy Lawrence, 1896 - British War Reporter Lucy Tayiah Eads, 1888 - Native American Tribal Chief 5th October Teresa de la Parra, 1889 - Venezuelan Novelist Helen Churchill Candee, 1858 - US Feminist & Writer Magda Szabó, 1917 - Hungarian Writer 6th October Fannie Lou Hamer, 1917 - American civil rights leader Florence B. Seibert, 1897 - American Biochemist Barbara Castle, 1910 - British Labour Politician Joan Littlewood, 1914 - British Playwright & Theatre Director 7th October Anni Blomqvist, 1909 - Finnish Author Alice Dalgliesh, 1893 - British American Author and Publisher Helen MacInnes, 1907 - Scottish American Author Lorna Wing, 1928 - British Psychiatrist & Autism Expert 8th October Harriet Taylor Mill, 1807 - British Philosopher and Feminist Rose Scott, 1847 - Australian Women's Rights Activist Marina Tsvetaeva, 1892 - Russian Poet Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan, 1899 - Scottish Civil Engineer 9th October Mary Ann Shadd, 1823 - US/Canadian anti-slavery activist Saroj Nalini Dutt, 1887 - Indian Feminist and Social Reformer Belva Plain, 1915 - American Author 10th October Louise Mack, 1870 - Australian poet, journalist and novelist Lilly Daché, 1898 - French Milliner and Fashion Designer Mercè Rodoreda, 1908 - Catalan Novelist 11th October Emily Davison, 1872 - British Militant Suffragette Dorothy Woolfolk, 1913 - American Comic Book Editor Harriet Boyd Hawes, 1888 - American Archaeologist 12th October Velvalee Dickinson, 1893 - American spy for the Japanese Kamini Roy, 1864 - Indian poet, social worker and feminist Domna Samiou, 1928 - Greek music researcher & musician 13th October Mary Kingsley, 1862 - British Scientist and Explorer Moturo Udayam, 1924 - Indian Politician & Women's Rights Activist 14th October Hannah Arendt, 1906 - German American Political Theorist Katherine Mansfield, 1888 - New Zealand Author Lois Lenski, 1893 - American Writer and Illustrator Ida Pfeiffer, 1797 - Austrian World Traveller 15th October Isabella Bird, 1831 - British Mountaineer Marie Stopes, 1880 - British Women's Rights Campaigner Marion Donovan, 1917 - US inventor of the disposable nappy 16th October Cecile de Brunhoff, 1903 - French storyteller & Babar creator Mary Daly, 1928 - American Radical Feminist Academic Lucy Stanton, 1831 - African American Abolitionist 17th October Elinor Glyn, 1864 - British Author and Scriptwriter Maria Teresa Agnesi, 1720 - Italian Composer & Musician Priscilla Buckley, 1921 - American Journalist & Editor 18th October Lina Radke, 1903 - German Olympic Runner Isabel Briggs Meyers, 1897 - American Political Scientist Melina Mercouri, 1920 - Greek Actress, Singer & Politician Trixie Worsley, 1921 - Mexican Canadian Computer Scientist 19th October Annie Smith Peck, 1850 - American Mountaineer Bertha Knight Landes, 1868 - Mayor of Seattle Marguerite Perey, 1909 - French Physicist 20th October Nellie McClung, 1873 - Canadian Feminist and Activist Eniola McMillan, 1904 - 1st Woman President of the NAACP Margaret Dumont, 1882 - American Actress 21st October Mary Blair, 1911 - American Artist and Illustrator Marita Petersen, 1940 - Prime Minister of Faroe Islands Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld, 1921 - Dutch Astronomer Ursula LeGuin, 1929 - American Science Fiction Writer 22nd October Sarah Bernhardt, 1844 - French Actress Kathleen Ankers, 1919 - British/American Set Designer Doris Lessing, 1919 - British Writer 23rd October Anita Roddick, 1942 - British Businesswoman & Campaigner Gertrude Ederle, 1905 - American Olympic Swimmer Belle Moore, 1894 - British Olympic Swimmer 24th October Marie-Louise von Motesiczky, 1906 - Austrian Painter Marjorie Joyner, 1896 - African American Inventor Christabel Marshall, 1871 - British Playwright & Campaigner 25th October Katharine Byron, 1903 - US Congresswoman Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, 1875 - American Children's Author & Illustrator Nell Shipman, 1892 - Canadian Actress, Screenwriter, Director Helen Blanchard, 1840 - American Inventor 26th October Beryl Markham, 1902 - British-Kenyan Aviator & adventurer Abigail Aldrich Rockefeller, 1874 - American Philanthropist Henrietta Hill Swope, 1902 - American Astronomer 27th October Sigrid Hjertén, 1885 - Swedish Modernist Painter Mary Moser, 1744 - English Painter Dolores Moore, 1932 - American Baseball Player Margaret Rousseau, 1910 - American Chemical Engineer 28th October Eileen Shanahan, 1901 - Irish Poet Margaret Noble/Sister Nivedita, 1867 - Irish reformer in India Edith Head, 1897 - American Costume Designer 29th October Betty Evans Grayson, 1925 - American Softball Pitcher Narcisa de Leon, 1877 - Filipino Film Producer Bertha Brouwer, 1930 - Dutch Sprinter Natalie Sleeth, 1930 - American Pianist and Composer 30th October Flora Stevenson, 1839 - Scottish educationalist Adelaide Anne Procter, 1825 - British Poet and Philanthropist Angelica Kauffmann, 1741 - Swiss/Austrian Artist Marie van Brittan Brown, 1922 - Black American Nurse and Inventor 31st October Laura Maria Caterina Bassi, 1711 - Italian Anatomy Professor Juliette Gordon Low, 1860 - Founder of American Girl Scouts Natalie Clifford Barney, 1876 - American-French Playwright Julia Peterkin, 1880 - American Writer Marie Laurencin, 1883 - French Painter & Printmaker Zaha Hadid, 1950 - Iraqi-British Architect Joan Robinson, 1903 - British Economist _____________________________________ |
1st November
Margaret Burroughs, 1917 - African American Writer, Artist & Historian Hannah Höch, 1889 - German Dada Artist Sippie Wallace, 1898 - African American Singer-Songwriter 2nd November Beryl McBurnie, 1915 - Trinidadian dance legend Marion Jones Farquhar, 1879 - American tennis player Rose Bird, 1936 - American Chief Justice Carmen Amaya, 1913 - Romani Flamenco Dancer & Singer 3rd November Elizabeth P. Hoisington, 1918 - US Brigadier General Annapurna Maharana, 1917 - Indian independence activist Lois Mailou Jones, 1905 - African American Artist 4th November Gena Branscombe, 1881 - Canadian Musician and Conductor Evelyn Bryan Johnson, 1909 - American Pilot Anna Bayerová, 1853 - Czech physician Janaki Ammal, 1897 - Indian Botanist 5th November Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh, 1865 - Scottish Artist Ida Tarbell, 1857 - American teacher, author and journalist Jacqueline Auriol, 1917 - French Test Pilot 6th November Marie Bregendahl, 1867 - Danish Writer Opal Kunz, 1894 - American Aviator Ida Barney, 1886 - American Astronomer & Mathematician 7th November Marie Curie, 1867 - Polish Physicist Lise Meitner, 1878 - Austrian Nuclear Physicist Yolande Beekman, 1911 - French/British Special Ops Exec. Helen Suzman, 1917 - South African Anti-Apartheid Activist 8th November Margaret Mitchell, 1900 - American Writer Dorothy Day, 1897 - American Journalist & Social Activist Martha Gellhorn, 1908 - American Writer & Journalist 9th November Florence Sabin, 1871 - "first lady of American science" Thelma Hulbert, 1913 - British Artist Hedy Lamarr, 1913 - Austrian-American Actress and Inventor 10th November Idabelle Smith Firestone, 1874 - US Composer & Songwriter Kate Seredy, 1899 - Hungarian-American Writer & Illustrator Lilly Pulitzer, 1931 - American Fashion Designer 11th November Anna Schwartz, 1915 - American Economist Madeleine Damerment, 1917 - French WW2 Special Agent Shirley Graham Du Bois, 1896 - African American Writer & Activist Frida Stewart, 1910 - British Activist and Author 12th November Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1815 - US Activist & Abolitionist Jeanne Mance, 1606 - French Canadian Nurse Lily Kronberger, 1890 - Hungarian Figure Skater Louise Thaden, 1905 - American Aviator 13th November Dorothea Erxleben, 1715 - 1st female German Doctor Eva Zeisel, 1906 - Hungarian American Designer Helene Stöcker, 1869 - German Feminist, Pacifist & Reformer 14th November Fanny Mendelssohn, 1805 - German Pianist/Composer (Music) Madeleine Ellicott, 1856 - American Suffragist & Reformer Astrid Lindgren, 1907 - Swedish Author & Screenwriter 15th November Georgia O'Keeffe, 1887 - American Artist Cornelia Sorabji, 1866 - 1st Indian woman Barrister Madeleine de Scudéry, 1607 - French Author 16th November Joan Lindsay, 1896 - Australian Author Mary Peabody Mann, 1806 - American Educator & Writer Mary Margaret McBride, 1899 - US Journalist & Radio Host 17th November Winson Hudson, 1916 - Black American Civil Rights activist Grace Abbott, 1878 - American Social Reformer 18th November Sojourner Truth, 1797 - African American Abolitionist & Reformer (date of birth uncertain) Dorothy Dix, 1861 - American Journalist Suzette Haden Elgin, 1936 - American Sci-Fi Writer 19th November Tatyana Afanasyeva, 1876 - Russian Mathematician Louise Dahl-Wolfe, 1895 - American Photographer Anna Seghers, 1900 - German Writer and Activist 20th November Selma Lagerlöf, 1858 - Swedish Author & Nobel prize winner Rose Pesotta, 1896 - American feminist labor organizer Anna Pauline Murray, 1910 - Black American civil rights activist Nadine Gordimer, 1923 - South African Writer and Activist Zinaida Hippius, 1869 - Russian Poet, Writer and Thinker 21st November Hetty Green, 1834 - American Businesswoman Mollie Steimer, 1897 - Russian-American Anarchist & Trade Unionist Elizabeth George Speare, 1908 - American Children's Author Georgia Frontiere, 1927 - American Football Team Chairman Marilyn French, 1929 - American Feminist Writer Beryl Bainbridge, 1932 - British Novelist Ada Cambridge, 1844 - British Australian Writer 22nd November Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, 1913 - Filipino Supreme Court Associate Justice Jerrie Mock, 1925 - American Solo Pilot George Eliot, 1819 - British Author Helenka Pantaleoni, 1900 - American Actress & Humanitarian 23rd November Rachel Fuller Brown, 1898 - American Chemist Margaret K. Knight, 1903 - British Psychologist & Humanist Betty Everett, 1939 - American Pianist & Singer 24th November Grace Darling, 1815 - Lighthouse keeper's daughter Marie Bashkirtseff, 1858 - Ukranian diarist, painter & sculptor Bessie Blount, 1914 - African American inventor 25th November Carrie Nation, 1846 - American "Saloon Smasher" Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck, 1778 - UK Anti-Slavery Writer Lillian Copeland, 1904 - American Athlete 26th November Mary Edwards Walker, 1832 - American Abolitionist & Doctor Sarah Grimké, 1792 - American Abolitionist & Reformer Alice Herz-Sommer, 1903 - Czech Music Teacher, Pianist & Holocaust survivor 27th November Fanny Kemble, 1809 - British Writer and Actress Katherine Milhous, 1894 - American Writer & Illustrator Dora Strother, 1921 - American Pilot and Engineer 28th November Helen Magill White, 1853 - First female Ph.D. in the US Elsie Quarterman, 1910 - American Ecologist & Botanist Dawn Powell, 1896 - American Author and Diarist 29th November Jemima Wilkinson, 1752 - American Preacher Louisa May Alcott, 1832 - American Writer Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1876 - 14th Governor of Wyoming Kinuyo Tanaka, 1909 - Japanese Actress and Director 30th November Mary Eliza McDowell, 1854 - American Social Reformer Beatrice Kerr, 1887 - Australian Swimmer & Aquatic Performer Takako Doi, 1928 - Japanese Politician |
1st December
Agathe Backer-Grøndahl, 1847 - Norwegian Composer Marie Tussaud, 1761 - French Artist Anna Komnene, 1083 - Greek Physician and Historian 2nd December Harriet Cohen, 1895 - British Pianist Josephine Roche, 1886 - American Industrialist & Politician 3rd December Octavia Hill, 1838 - British Housing Reformer Ellen Swallow Richards, 1842 - American industrial and environmental chemist Sally Shlaer, 1938 - American Software Engineer 4th December Edith Cavell, 1865 - British Nurse Katherine Prichard, 1883 - Australian Author and Activist Jeanne Manford, 1920 - American Teacher and Activist 5th December Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, 1822 - American Educator Christina Rossetti, 1830 - British Poet Marjorie Eaton, 1901 - American Actress and Painter 6th December Libbie Hyman, 1888 - American Zoologist Cornelia Meigs, 1884 - American Writer Ève Curie, 1904 - French American Journalist, Writer & Pianist Kang Cheng (Ida Kahn), 1873 - Chinese Doctor 7th December Willa Cather, 1873 - American Author Hilda Taba, 1902 - Estonian Architect & Educator Kersti Merilaas, 1913 - Estonian Writer and Poet 8th December Sarah Williamson, 1899 - African American Missionary Camille Claudel, 1864 - French Sculptor & Graphic Artist Julia Robinson, 1919 - American Mathematician 9th December Grace Hopper, 1906 - computer scientist in the US Navy Dolores Ibárruri, 1895 - Spanish Civil War Leader Laura Salverson, 1890 - Canadian Author Margaret Brundage, 1900 - American Illustrator and Artist 10th December Nelly Sachs, 1891 - German Writer and Nobel Prize winner Ada Lovelace, 1815 - British Mathematician Emily Dickinson, 1830 - American Poet 11th December Annie Jump Cannon, 1863 - American Astronomer Marge Buell, 1904 - American Cartoonist Elena Garro, 1916 - Mexican Writer 12th December Enid Balint, 1903 - British Psychoanalyst Zinaida Serebryakova, 1884 - Russian Painter Helen Frankenthaler, 1928 - American Artist 13th December Belle da Costa Greene, 1883 - African American Librarian Ana Néri, 1814 - Brazilian Nurse Ella Baker, 1903 - African American Civil Rights Activist 14th December Katherine MacDonald, 1891 - American Actress and Producer Mária Szepes, 1908 - Hungarian Author Aphra Behn, 1640 - British Playwright, Poet & Writer 15th December Betty Smith, 1896 - American Writer Mary Brooksbank, 1897 - Scottish Activist, Musician and Poet Muriel Rukeyser, 1913 - American Poet and Political Activist 16th December Margaret Mead, 1901 - American anthropologist and curator Elizabeth Carter, 1717 - British Writer, Classicist & Translator Marie Hall Ets, 1895 - American Writer and Illustrator 17th December Helen Barton, 1856 - "Queen of Scottish Orators" Émilie du Châtelet, 1706 - French Mathematician & Physicist Mary Cartwright, 1900 - British Mathematician 18th December Helen Vlachos, 1911 - Greek Newspaper Publisher Yvonne Cormeau, 1909 - Belgian/British Special Ops Exec Augusta Holmès, 1847 - Irish/French Composer 19th December Mary Livermore, 1820 - American Journalist & Activist Bernice Pauahi Bishop, 1831 - Hawaiian Philanthropist Maria Sanford, 1836 - American Educator 20th December Ivana Kobilca, 1861 - Slovenian Realist Painter Elsie de Wolfe, 1859 - American Interior Designer Eugenia Ginzburg, 1904 - Russian Author Laura Smith Haviland, 1808 - Canadian American Abolitionist 21st December Nina Boyle, 1865 - British Journalist & Welfare Worker Maud Gonne, 1866 - Irish Nationalist Rebecca West, 1892 - British Author, Journalist & Critic 22nd December Teresa Carreño, 1853 - Venezuelan pianist, singer, composer Barbara Moore, 1903 - Russian-born health enthusiast Lillian "Lil" Green, 1919 - African American Singer Songwriter 23rd December Anna Jane Harrison, 1912 - American organic chemist Sarah Breedlove, 1867 - African-American businesswoman Alice Kober, 1906 - American Classicist and Archaeologist 24th December Lydia Koidula, 1843 - Estonian Poet Ava Helen Pauling, 1903 - American Human Rights Activist Eliza Cook, 1818 - British Poet 25th December Clara Barton, 1821 - American teacher & Humanitarian Lila Wallace, 1889 - American Publisher & Philanthropist Louise Bourgeois, 1911 - French American Sculptor & Artist 26th December Mary Somerville, 1780 - Scottish science writer & polymath Olga Lopes-Seale, 1918 - Guyanese Barbadian Humanitarian Gina Pellón, 1926 - Cuban Artist 27th December Thea von Harbou, 1888 - German actress, author & director Audrey Wagner, 1927 - US Baseball player, doctor & pilot Hung Sin-nui, 1924 - Chinese Opera Singer Jane Elgee Wilde, 1821 - Irish Poet & Activist 28th December Carol Ryrie Brink, 1895 - American Author Eliza Lucas, 1722 - Caribbean Plantation Owner (sadly also an active "owner" of slaves) Emily Cheney Neville, 1919 - American Author Donna Hightower, 1926 - African American Singer Songwriter 29th December Peggy Glanville-Hicks, 1912 - Australian Composer Vera Brittain, 1893 - British writer, feminist and pacifist Annie Alexander, 1867 - American Paleontologist 30th December Frances Allitsen, 1848 - British Composer Elyne Mitchell, 1913 - Australian Author Rosalinde Hurley, 1929 -UK Pathologist & Public Health Expert Glenda Adams, 1939 - Australian Author and Academic 31st December Elizabeth Arden, 1878 - Canadian Businesswoman Marie d'Agoult, 1805 - French Author Júlia Báthory, 1901 - Hungarian Glass Designer Carmen Contreras-Bozak, 1919 - Hispanic American Soldier Irina Korschunow, 1925 - German Writer |