August 6, 1926Gertrude
Ederly became the first woman to swim the English Channel,
breaking the previous record by two hours. A ticker-tape parade
in New York honored the young woman who wasn't yet twenty years
old.
Aug 12, 1867Birth
of Edith Hamilton, acclaimed scholar of Greek and Roman
literature.
Aug 13, 1818Birth
of Lucy Stone, feminist, abolitionist and suffragist who
insisted on keeping her own name in marriage. She inspired the
title of "Lucy Stoner," applied to other women who
kept their names.
August 19, 1814Birth
of Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant, who as a former
slave helped thousands of slaves escape to freedom in Canada.
She migrated to California, where she sued a streetcar company
for discrimination and fought for the rights of Black people.
August 26, 1920 Women's
Equality Day, when the states ratified the woman suffrage (19th)
amendment to the U.S. Constitution, after 72 years of struggle.
Many women devoted their adult lives to the cause, and many
were jailed and force-fed [during starvation protests] for demanding
this basic [American] human right.
