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This Day in Women's History

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May 13CalendarMay 15
This Day
14May

23 indexed achievements across recorded history.


1786
Mary Campbell
Exploration

Highland Mary’s farewell meeting with Robert Burns

Highland Mary’s farewell meeting with Robert Burns, a landmark event in Scottish literary history and Burns lore.

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Mary Campbell·Highland Mary
1805
Sacagawea
Exploration

Rescues corps journals and supplies from capsized boat

Sacagawea rescued expedition journals and supplies from a capsized boat, a pivotal act during the expedition.

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Sacagawea·Wikipedia - Sacagawea
1819
Mary Moser
Science

Death of Mary Moser

Mary Moser (later Mrs. Hugh Lloyd) died on 14 May 1819 in London, one of the last surviving founding members of the Royal Academy.

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Mary Moser·Mary Moser - Wikipedia
1847
Fanny Mendelssohn
Science

Death of Fanny Mendelssohn

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel died in Berlin on 14 May 1847 after suffering a stroke while rehearsing for one of her family's Sunday musical concerts.

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Fanny Mendelssohn·Fanny Mendelssohn: An Interview with Dr. Angela Mace Christian - Rutgers
1881
Mary Seacole
Medicine

Death of Mary Seacole in London

Mary Seacole died on 14 May 1881 in London.

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Mary Seacole·Mary Seacole - Historic Figures
1904
Clara Barton
Politics

Retires as president of the American Red Cross

After 23 years, Barton retired as president of the American Red Cross, ending her formal leadership of the organization she founded.

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Clara Barton·Clara Barton: Topics in Chronicling America
1908
Betty Jeffrey
Medicine

Birth of Betty Jeffrey

Betty Jeffrey is born on May 14, 1908, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

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Betty Jeffrey·Agnes Betty Jeffrey Biography - Australian Dictionary of Biography
1925
Sophie Kurys
Sports

Birth of Sophie Kurys

Sophie Kurys was born on May 14, 1925, in Flint, Michigan.

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Sophie Kurys·Sophie Kurys - Wikipedia
1929
Genevieve R Cline
Science

Arrives in Los Angeles to hear customs cases

On May 14, 1929, Judge Cline arrived in Los Angeles to preside over roughly 600 pending customs cases, an early high-profile judicial assignment.

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Genevieve R Cline·Los Angeles Daily News Archives - UCLA Library
1939
Lina Medina
Science

Becomes the Youngest Confirmed Mother in Recorded Medical History

At age five years, seven months and 21 days, Lina Medina gave birth via caesarean section to a son, Gerardo, in Lima, Peru — the youngest confirmed motherhood on record.

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Lina Medina·Lina Medina - Wikipedia
1940
Emma Goldman
Activism

Death of Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman dies in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at age 70.

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Emma Goldman·Emma Goldman - Wikipedia
1942
Oveta Culp Hobby
Politics

Assumes leadership of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps

Appointed first director of WAAC, marking the start of women's significant military roles.

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Oveta Culp Hobby·Army Flier Heritage Museum - Oveta Culp Hobby
1955
Marian Croak
Science

Birth of Marian Rogers Croak in New York City

Marian Rogers Croak was born on May 14, 1955, in New York City, later becoming a pioneering engineer in VoIP and communications technology.

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Marian Croak·Marian Croak - Wikipedia
1957
Marie Vassilieff
Science

Died in Nogent-sur-Marne, France

Marie Vassilieff died on May 14, 1957, in Nogent-sur-Marne, near Paris, largely forgotten by the art world she had helped shape.

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Marie Vassilieff
1965
Frances Perkins
Science

Death of Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins died in New York City at the age of 85, having transformed American labor law and social policy.

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Frances Perkins·Frances Perkins - Wikipedia
1975
Marguerite Perey
Science

Death in Louveciennes, France

Marguerite Perey died of cancer, aged 65, in Louveciennes, France, an illness likely linked to decades of radiation exposure during her research.

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Marguerite Perey·Marguerite Perey - Encyclopedia.com
1977
Barbara Moore
Activism

Death of Barbara Moore

Barbara Moore passed away on May 14, 1977.

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Barbara Moore·Dr. Barbara Moore - Shropshire's Heritage
1980
Jeanne Sauvé
Politics

First Female Speaker of the House of Commons

Jeanne Sauvé became Canada's first female Speaker of the House of Commons on May 14, 1980.

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Jeanne Sauvé·Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé - The Canadian Encyclopedia
1991
Jiang Qing
Politics

Death by suicide in Beijing

Jiang Qing died by suicide on May 14, 1991, in a Beijing hospital.

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Jiang Qing·Britannica: Jiang Qing
1998
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Activism

Death of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Died May 14, 1998, at her home in Coconut Grove, Florida, aged 108, remembered as the "Mother of the Everglades."

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas·National Women's History Museum – Marjory Stoneman Douglas
2002
Shirin Neshat
Arts

ICP Infinity Award for Visual Arts

Receives the International Center of Photography Infinity Award for Visual Arts in New York on 14 May 2002 for her groundbreaking photographic work.

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Shirin Neshat·International Center of Photography – Shirin Neshat
2009
Jessica Matthews
Science

Public presentation of the Soccket at MIT

Jessica O. Matthews co-presented the Soccket, an energy-generating soccer ball, at MIT's 100K Entrepreneurship Competition, marking an early public unveiling of her signature invention.

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Jessica Matthews·Jessica Matthews - Lemelson Foundation
2019
Alice Rivlin
Politics

Died in Washington, D.C.

Alice Rivlin died on May 14, 2019, in Washington, D.C., at age 88, after a distinguished career in economic policy.

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Alice Rivlin·New York Times: Alice M. Rivlin, Federal Budget Expert, Dies at 88