1587
Politics
Elizabeth signs Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant
Elizabeth signed the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots, authorizing the execution of her rival for alleged treasonous plots.
View detailsThis Day
01February
67 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1587
Politics
Signing of Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant
Elizabeth I signs Mary, Queen of Scots' death warrant, authorizing her execution.
View details1826
Science
First paper by a woman at Royal Society
Mary Somerville's paper was first presented by a woman to and published by the Royal Society in 1826.
View details1835
Science
First women honorary members Royal Astronomical Society
Mary Somerville and Caroline Herschel elected as the first female honorary members of the Royal Astronomical Society in February 1835.
View details1850
Science
First known lifetime publication: a valentine letter
Dickinson's earliest known published work, a comic valentine letter, appeared in the Amherst College Indicator in February 1850.
View details1851
Literature
Death of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Mary Shelley dies in London at the age of 53, likely from a brain tumor.
View details1851
Literature
Death of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley dies in London at age 53.
View details1862
Science
'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' published in The Atlantic Monthly
Howe's Civil War anthem was published in the February 1862 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, earning her national fame and $5 in payment.
View details1866
Arts
Creates "Freedwoman and Her Child"
First feminist Emancipation statue by an African American, created by Edmonia Lewis.
View details1870
Politics
Opens first women-operated brokerage firm on Wall Street
Victoria Woodhull opens a women-operated brokerage firm on Wall Street.
View details1878
Politics
Birth of Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Hattie Wyatt Caraway was born near Bakerville, Tennessee.
View details1880
Science
Escorted Ferdinand de Lesseps during his visit to New York
Emily Warren Roebling escorted French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps during his February 1880 New York visit, reflecting her recognized engineering expertise.
View details1882
Activism
Illness in infancy resulting in deafblindness
At 19 months, Helen Keller’s February 1882 illness leaves her permanently deaf and blind.
View details1888
Science
Birth of Winifred Goldring
Winifred Goldring was born on February 1, 1888, in Kenwood, near Albany, New York.
View details1898
Medicine
Birth of Leila Denmark
Leila Denmark was born on February 1, 1898, in Portal, Georgia.
View details1898
Medicine
Cuban insurrection relief
Barton traveled to Cuba to aid the injured during the Cuban insurrection, continuing her international humanitarian relief work.
View details1900
Arts
Created role of Frost in The Seasons
In February 1900, Anna Pavlova created the role of Frost in 'The Seasons'.
View details1918
Literature
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
Muriel Sarah Camberg was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 1 February 1918, to a Jewish father and Presbyterian mother.
View details1922
Science
Posthumous Harvard Annals memoir acknowledging Leavitt's work
Harvard College Observatory Annals Vol. 79 formally acknowledged Leavitt's death and her pioneering work on Cepheid variables in the Small Magellanic Cloud.
View details1926
Arts
Born in New York City
Vivian Maier was born on February 1, 1926, in New York City, to a French mother and Austrian father.
View details1927
Literature
Begins folklore fieldwork funded by a fellowship
Hurston starts her fellowship-funded folklore fieldwork in Florida, gathering African American folk materials.
View details1942
Activism
Defers Guggenheim Fellowship to document Japanese American incarceration
Lange defers her Guggenheim Fellowship to photograph Japanese American incarceration camps.
View details1944
Activism
First woman to attain the rank of Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard
In February 1944, Stratton was promoted to Captain, becoming the first woman in Coast Guard history to reach this rank.
View details1947
Arts
Renewal of first Fox contract and first speaking film role
Twentieth Century-Fox renews Monroe’s initial contract; she soon gains her earliest speaking film roles, including nine lines in “Dangerous Years.”
View details1953
Science
Featured in Universal Newsreel footage
A February 1953 Universal Newsreel captured Jorgensen's arrival and public reception, among the earliest filmed records of her celebrity.
View details1954
Arts
Premiere of the opera 'The Transposed Heads' in New York
Glanville-Hicks's opera 'The Transposed Heads', based on Thomas Mann's novella, premiered in New York, marking a major achievement for an Australian-born woman composer in American opera.
View details1955
Science
Visiting professor of management at University of Wisconsin–Madison
Began role as visiting professor at University of Wisconsin.
View details1956
Literature
Publication of autobiography "Lady Sings the Blues"
Publication of her autobiography "Lady Sings the Blues" with co‑author William Dufty.
View details1957
Arts
First registration of LIQUID PAPER trademark
Registered LIQUID PAPER trademark with U.S. Patent Office.
View details1961
Arts
First Columbia Records album released
Franklin releases her first album for Columbia Records, marking the start of her secular recording career.
View details1967
Arts
National Folk Festival Award
Cotten received the National Folk Festival award on February 1, 1967, recognizing her contributions to folk music.
View details1969
Arts
Funeral and burial in Huntsville, Alabama
Funeral service held and burial in Huntsville family plot.
View details1972
Activism
Birth of Leymah Gbowee in Liberia
Leymah Gbowee is born in central Liberia, later becoming a prominent peace activist and Nobel laureate.
View details1973
Science
Death of Beulah Louise Henry in New York City
Died in New York City on February 1, 1973, holding 49 patents and credited with approximately 110 inventions over her lifetime.
View details1978
Science
First Black Heritage Series postage stamp honors Tubman
The USPS issued a 13-cent Harriet Tubman stamp on Feb 1, 1978, launching the Black Heritage Series and making her the first African American woman on a U.S. stamp.
View details1979
Law
Dismissed from judgeship after Islamic Revolution
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ebadi and other women judges were dismissed from their positions.
View details1983
Science
First woman mathematician to receive MacArthur Fellowship
Julia Robinson received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1983.
View details1986
Science
Died in Stockholm, Sweden
Alva Myrdal died on February 1, 1986, in Stockholm, Sweden, at the age of 84.
View details1987
Sports
Birth of Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey was born in Riverside County, California, on February 1, 1987.
View details1989
Arts
Death of Elaine de Kooning
Elaine de Kooning died on February 1, 1989, in Southampton, New York.
View details1996
Arts
First African American woman on the cover of GQ
Tyra Banks became the first African American woman on the cover of GQ magazine.
View details1996
Arts
Sale of Sierra On‑Line, ending Roberta Williams’s active game design career
The sale of Sierra On‑Line marked the end of Roberta Williams's active role in game design.
View details1996
Arts
First Black model on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover (shared cover)
Tyra appeared as the first Black model on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover.
View details1997
Arts
Steps down as U.S. editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan
In February 1997, Helen stepped down as U.S. editor-in-chief.
View details1997
Arts
First Black woman with a solo Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover
Banks first Black woman to appear solo on the Sports Illustrated cover.
View details1998
Politics
First African-American Woman Promoted to Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
On February 1, 1998, Lillian Fishburne was promoted to rear admiral, becoming the first African-American woman to hold that rank in the U.S. Navy.
View details1998
Activism
End of Role as ICBL Coordinator
Jody Williams concluded her role as the founding coordinator of the ICBL in February 1998.
View details2001
Medicine
Publication of FOXP3/scurfy Nature Genetics paper
Co-authored paper in Nature Genetics linking scurfy gene product FOXP3 to a lymphoproliferative disorder in mice.
View details2001
Science
Detained by Russian military in Khatuni, Chechnya
Arrested and held for three days by Russian forces in the Chechen village of Khatuni while investigating abuses during the Second Chechen War.
View details2003
Science
Death during Columbia Disaster
Kalpana Chawla perished as Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry.
View details2006
Science
Publication of "Putin's Russia: Life in a Failing Democracy"
Her book compiling investigative reporting on corruption, human rights abuses, and authoritarianism under Vladimir Putin was published.
View details2006
Activism
Recognition by National Inventors Hall of Fame
Mary Dixon Kies was honored by National Inventors Hall of Fame for her contributions.
View details2009
Politics
Becomes Prime Minister of Iceland
Sworn in as Iceland’s first female and the world’s first openly gay prime minister.
View details2012
Science
Black History Month Recognition
Jessica O. Matthews was highlighted during Black History Month for her Soccket invention and for founding Uncharted Play.
View details2012
2013
Politics
Death of Helene Hale
Helene Hale passed away on February 1, 2013, in Kamuela, Hawaii.
View details2013
Science
Death of Maggie Gee
Maggie Gee, WASP pilot and Lawrence Livermore physicist, died on February 1, 2013, at age 89.
View details2013
Arts
National Women's Hall of Fame induction announcement
Lansing was announced as part of the National Women's Hall of Fame 2013 class on February 1, 2013.
View details2013
2013
Politics
Ended tenure as U.S. Secretary of State
Concluded her role as Secretary of State after four years.
View details2014
Activism
Death of Dedé Mirabal
Dedé Mirabal passes away, leaving behind a legacy of her sisters' memory.
View details2014
Arts
Becomes most-followed user on Twitter
Perry surpassed 50 million Twitter followers in February 2014, becoming the platform's most-followed user.
View details2015
Politics
First woman to serve as U.S. Postmaster General
Assumed office as the first female Postmaster General of the United States on February 1, 2015.
View details2015
2015
Arts
Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show
Perry's Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance drew 118.5 million viewers, becoming the most-watched halftime show at the time.
View details2015
Science
Featured pitching LuminAID on ABC's Shark Tank
Dartmouth College highlighted alumna Anna Stork's appearance pitching LuminAID on ABC's Shark Tank, a major national entrepreneurship milestone.
View details2016
Politics
NLD assumes majority in parliament
Suu Kyi and NLD MPs take their seats as a majority in Myanmar’s national parliament for the first time.
View details