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Famous Women through History

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Women though history

Throughout history women have made a difference. Some have been great writers and worked to free the slaves. Some improved the medical system and by doing so saved many lives. Some were the force behind great men. Even others made great scientific breakthroughs. Last, but not least, there were women who worked to make sure that women were taken seriously. I found all these stories powerful and inspiring. I hope you are inspired too.

Right now I have sections on Harriet Beecher Stowe, Florence Nightingale, Abigail Adams and more.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

(June 14, 1811 - July 1, 1896)
American author and abolitionist

Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Connecticut in 1811. She was the seventh child of her father Lyman Beecher (a Protestant preacher), and his first wife, Roxana Foote.

In 1824 she went to Hartford to study in her sister Catherine's school - the Hartford Female Seminary.

Harriet Beecher Stowe married Calvin Ellis Stowe, a biblical scholar, on January 1836.

Harriet Beecher Stowe is most well known for her book Uncle Tom's Cabin. After the book was published, she started speaking against slavery in the US and Europe. Some historians claim that the controversy about her book was one of the reasons for the American Civil War (1861). After the war was over, Harriet Beecher Stowe had boarding homes and schools built for the newly freed slaves.

Her writing did not stop with Uncle Tom's Cabin. Harriet Beecher Stowe's writing career spanned fifty one years. During that time she published thirty books and many short stories and articles.

Harriet Beecher Stowe links

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Uncle Tom's Cabin

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Harriet Beecher Stowe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Harriet Beecher Stowe - Wikiquote

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WSU notes - Harriet Beecher Stowe

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About Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Welcome to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

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Books about Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Florence Nightingale

(12 May 1820 - 13 August 1910)
founder of modern nursing

Florence was named after the city of her birth. From 1844, when she became an advocate for improved medical care in infirmaries, through her help in the Crimean War to her death at age 90, she was constantly trying to improve the medical system.

Florence Nightingale was one of the few people that connected sanitary conditions and healing.

When she was younger, Florence Nightingale was tutored in mathematics by James Joseph Sylvester. That was probably how (years later) she was able to invent a type of statistical diagram called the "polar-area diagram" to demonstrate the causes of death in the army.

Four year after the close of the Crimean war, in 1856, Florence established the Nightingale School for Nurses in London with money raised in tribute to her.

In 1883, Queen Victoria awarded her the Royal Red Cross. In 1907, she became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit. In 1908, she was given the Honourary Freedom of the City of London.

Florence Nightingale Links

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Florence Nightingale

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Florence Nightingale Paper Doll Page 1 of 2

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Florence Nightingale's Polar-Area Diagram

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Florence Nightingale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Florence Nightingale Museum

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Florence Nightingale Stuff on CafePress

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Florence Nightingale on Amazon

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Lucy Stone

I had so much information about Lucy Stone, that I made a lens just about her:
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History of Abigail Adams

b.1744 -- d.1818
Wife of John Adams and Mother of John Quincy Adams

Abigail was born in 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She married John Quincy Adams in 1764.

Abigail Adams was known for advocating that education in the public schools to be equal for both girls and boys. She didn't have formal education, instead was taught at home.

Abigail wrote many letters to John when he was off on one of his many trips. Those letters are a great snapshot of the lives of people during the American revolution.

Abigail talked to her husband to pay attention to married women's property rights. She wrote to him in 1776, saying "remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation."

She died in 1818, and is buried next to her husband in the grounds of United First Parish Church in Quincy, MA.


Abigail Adams, with Her Autograph
Abigail Adams, with Her Autograph Giclee Print
18 in. x 24 in.
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Abigail Adams Links

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http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=2

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Abigail Smith Adams | The White House

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Abigail Adams Birthplace

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Rosalind Elsie Franklin

b.July 25, 1920 -- d. April 16, 1958 Born and died in London, England
Molecular Biologist and X-ray crystallographer

In 1951, she became a research associate in John Randall's laboratory at King's College, London. During this time, only males were allowed in some of the university dining rooms. Also, men that worked with her tended to go to men-only pubs after they left work. It was not a very female friendly environment.

Her colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray diffraction images to James Watson (without her ok or knowledge), which gave Watson the "aha!" moment that allowed him to beat her to publication. The quote from Watson about the photo was that "My jaw fell open and my pulse began to race." Franklin was relegated to a supporting article in the journal "Nature" that published Watson's article.

She died at age 37 from ovarian cancer. Her death certificate read: "A Research Scientist, Spinster, Daughter of Ellis Arthur Franklin, a Banker."

Crick, Watson, and Wilkins were awarded a Nobel Prize for their work on nucleic acids in 1962. Rosalind Franklin was not eligible because she died a few years before.


Rosalind Franklin


Rosalind Franklin
Henry Grant
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Links on Rosalind Elsie Franklin

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Rosalind Franklin

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Books on Rosalind Elsie Franklin

Want to learn more about Rosalind Franklin? Here are some great books about her.
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Thoughts?

Please let us know if you liked this lens. If you wished there was more information on anything, (or would like another woman on this lens) let me know and I will try to get that up ASAP.

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  • Reply
    huvalbd Apr 14, 2011 @ 1:45 pm | delete
    I applaud you for starting this lens and look forward to seeing it become very long and full of powerful women.

    If you are looking for suggestions for more, how about Rosalind Elsie Franklin? Her colleague Maurice Wilkins showed her X-ray diffraction images to James Watson, which gave him the "aha!" moment that allowed him to beat her to publication. The Nobel Prize for the discovery of DNA went to Watson, Crick and Wilkins. They used her work for their article without her knowledge or consent. Franklin was relegated to a supporting article in the journal "Nature" that published Watson's article. She did not complain--and living in Britain, I suspect that may be simply because the British don't like to complain.
  • Reply
    Momsbusy247 Mar 16, 2011 @ 10:16 pm | delete
    You have picked some great women to highlight here.
  • Reply
    prosperity66 Jul 2, 2010 @ 2:15 am | delete
    It's a great lens; which allowed me to learn more about these women, and I'd like you to add more famous women so that I can come back over and over again... I'm passionate with history and this lens is one I love particularly. After all, I'm a woman too ;)
  • Reply
    GraemePark Apr 5, 2009 @ 3:03 pm | delete
    Great information and links. Thank you and please check out out lens on Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson.
  • Reply
    tdove Nov 1, 2008 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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DesignedbyLisa

Being a mom of a young girl, I am always on the lookout for good role models for my daughter. These women, who fought against the status quo, show how... more »

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