Women's History Timeline

Women's Voices,
Women's Stories

A Journey Through Time

From the earliest storytellers through pioneering journalists, students can explore women who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting on the human condition decade after decade.

Sarah Josepha Hale, the U.S. editor and author was the first female magazine editor in the United States. Through her work in the publications Ladies' Magazine and Godey's Lady's Book, she helped shape many of the attitudes and thoughts of women of her period.

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

1828

Margaret Fuller writes Woman in the Nineteenth Century, where she urges young women to seek greater independence from the home and family and to obtain such freedom through education.

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

1845

Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and many others gather to discuss women's rights and create the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions .

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

1848

Edith Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for her novel The Age of Innocence.

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

1921

Ida Lupino, an English-born American film and television actress, director, and screenwriter, first gained fame through her portrayals of strong female characters. She went on to become one of the first women to direct films in Hollywood.

1949

Katharine Graham became president of the Washington Post company and later became the company's chief executive officer. In 1969 she became the publisher of The Washington Post newspaper.

Ruth Fremson—AP/Shutterstock.com

1963

Maya Angelou publishes I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiography of her early life that was nominated for the National Book Award.

PRNewsFoto/XM Satellite Radio/AP Images

1970

Barbara Walters signs a five-year contract with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), making her the first woman to co-anchor an evening network news program and, with a salary of 1 million dollars per year, the highest-paid journalist at that time.

1976

Billie Jean King, a legendary tennis player, won 39 Grand Slam titles and was named world No. 1 in women's tennis six times. She was also a champion for gender equality in sports and a social activist, playing a vital role in forming the Women's Tennis Association and the passage of Title IX. King blazed a trail for LGBTQ+ representation in sports, coming out as gay in 1981.

1981

Architect and student Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial were chosen from 1,420 entries. Her work was in sharp contrast to the traditional format for a memorial, which usually included a heroic sculpture.

Bruce K. Huff—San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA Press/Alamy

1982

Connie Chung joins NBC, becoming the first Asian American anchor of a major network newscast. Throughout her career, Chung has received three Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast journalism.

1983

Oprah Winfrey began her famous talk show. The Oprah Winfrey Show was syndicated nationally and became the highest-rated television talk show in the United States and earned several Emmy Awards.

1985

Ava DuVernay becomes the first African American Woman to win the best director award at the Sundance Film Festival for her film The Middle of Nowhere.

2012

Reese Witherspoon, an American actress and the recipient of various accolades started Hello Sunshine, a media company that puts women at the center of every story they create, highlighting where women are now and helping them chart a new path forward.

Matt Baron—BEI/Shutterstock.com

2016

Lizzo, an American singer, rapper, and flutist, wins a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. She remains an influential advocate for body positivity, inclusivity, and diversity in entertainment, inspiring and empowering fans with her message.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

2020