Est. TodayThis Day in Women's History
TodayCalendarWomenAbridgedSearchAdmin
This Day in Women's History

A research-grade almanac of firsts and sentinel achievements — indexed against every day of the year.

Explore
  • All 366 days
  • Women A–Z
  • Abridged biographies
  • Search
Editorial
  • Admin dashboard
  • Caption studio
© 2026 — Research-grade almanac of women's history.women.mtapnfc.com
October 9CalendarOctober 11
This Day
10October

40 indexed achievements across recorded history.


1870
Louise Mack
Literature

Birth of Marie Louise Hamilton Mack

Louise Mack was born on 10 October 1870 in Hobart, Tasmania, later becoming one of Australia's most prominent journalists and novelists.

View details
Louise Mack·Australian Dictionary of Biography - Mack, Marie Louise (1870-1935)
1876
Helen Blanchard
Science

Patent granted for improved sewing machine

U.S. Patent No. 183,192 was issued to Helen Blanchard for a 'sewing-machine,' part of her series of industrial sewing improvements.

View details
Helen Blanchard·Wikipedia: Helen Blanchard
1879
Frances Elizabeth Willard
Science

Elected national president of the WCTU

Willard was elected national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, a post she held until her death in 1898.

View details
Frances Elizabeth Willard·Frances Willard - Wikipedia
1887
Saroj Nalini Dutt
Activism

Birth of Saroj Nalini Dutt

Saroj Nalini Dutt was born on October 10, 1887, in Bengal, India.

View details
Saroj Nalini Dutt·Saroj Nalini Dutt - Wikipedia
1888
Louise Blanchard Bethune
Arts

First woman member of American Institute of Architects

Became the first woman member of the AIA.

View details
Louise Blanchard Bethune·Pioneering Women of American Architecture - Louise Blanchard Bethune
1890
Opal Kunz
Aviation

Birth of Opal Kunz

Opal Logan Giberson (later Kunz) was born on October 10, 1890, in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

View details
Opal Kunz·Wikipedia - Opal (given name) / Opal Kunz references
1891
Ingrid Christensen
Exploration

Birth of Ingrid Christensen

Ingrid Christensen was born in 1891 in Sandefjord, Norway.

View details
Ingrid Christensen·Wikipedia - Ingrid Christensen
1898
Lilly Daché
Arts

Birth of Lilly Daché

Lilly Daché was born on October 10, 1898, in Bègles, France.

View details
Lilly Daché·Daché, Lilly, 1898-1989
1899
Emily Hobhouse
Science

Appointed Secretary of the South African Conciliation Committee

Hobhouse became secretary of the London-based South African Conciliation Committee, opposing British government policy shortly after war broke out.

View details
Emily Hobhouse·South African History Online
1900
Helen Hayes
Science

Birth of Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes Brown was born in Washington, D.C., later becoming known as the "First Lady of the American Theatre."

View details
Helen Hayes·Helen Hayes | Britannica
1903
Emmeline Pankhurst
Science

Founding of the Women's Social and Political Union

Pankhurst founded the WSPU in Manchester on 10 October 1903, launching the militant suffragette movement in Britain.

View details
Emmeline Pankhurst·Emmeline Pankhurst - Wikipedia
1908
Mercè Rodoreda
Literature

Born in Barcelona

Mercè Rodoreda i Gurguí was born in Barcelona, in the Sant Gervasi de Cassoles neighborhood, into a family devoted to Catalan culture and literature.

View details
Mercè Rodoreda·Wikipedia: Mercè Rodoreda
1917
Lili’uokalani
Activism

Creation of Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust for Hawaiian children

Liliʻuokalani signs the trust deed creating the Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust for orphaned and destitute Native Hawaiian children.

View details
Lili’uokalani·Queen Liliʻuokalani – American Masters
1922
Beatrix Potter
Science

Major land gift of Hill Top farm to the National Trust

Potter donated the 20-acre Hill Top farmstead and other land to the National Trust, an early act of Lake District conservation.

View details
Beatrix Potter·National Trust: Beatrix Potter
1941
Vera Atkins
Politics

Commissioned into Women’s Auxiliary Air Force

Vera Atkins was commissioned on October 10, 1941, empowering her formal role in SOE's French Section.

View details
Vera Atkins·Wikipedia: Vera Atkins
1957
Ayn Rand
Literature

'Atlas Shrugged' published

Rand's 1,100-page magnum opus was published by Random House, presenting her fullest fictional expression of Objectivism.

View details
Ayn Rand·Ayn Rand Chronology - Atlas Society
1966
Joyce Chen
Arts

Premiere of "Joyce Chen Cooks" on WGBH

WGBH aired "Joyce Chen Cooks," a pioneering cooking show.

View details
Joyce Chen·The Art of Asian Cooking - WGBH Open Vault
1966
Carolyn Bertozzi
Science

Birth of Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi

Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, to a physics professor father, beginning a life that would lead to Nobel Prize-winning chemistry.

View details
Carolyn Bertozzi·Carolyn Bertozzi - Wikipedia
1966
Joyce Chen
Arts

First woman of color to host a nationally syndicated TV cooking show

Joyce Chen became the first woman of color to host such a show.

View details
Joyce Chen·Joyce Chen Television Profile - Food52
1969
Elfriede Jelinek
Literature

Young Austrian Culture Week Poetry and Prose Prize

Received Young Austrian Culture Week Prize for Poetry and Prose, honoring her dual contributions in arts.

View details
Elfriede Jelinek·Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women’s Writing
1974
Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Politics

Death of Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Lyudmila Pavlichenko passed away on October 10, 1974, in Moscow, USSR.

View details
Lyudmila Pavlichenko·Lyudmila Pavlichenko Biography - Britannica
1977
Rosalyn Yalow
Science

First American-born woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Yalow won the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, becoming the second woman and first American-born woman to receive the prize in that category.

View details
Rosalyn Yalow·Nobel Prize Facts: Rosalyn Yalow
1980
Ashley Martin
Science

Birth of Ashley Nicole Martin

Ashley Nicole Martin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Wayne and Stacy Martin, later becoming an NCAA Division I football and soccer barrier-breaker.

View details
Ashley Martin·Jacksonville State University Athletics Biography
1983
Barbara McClintock
Medicine

Announcement of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Nobel Assembly announced McClintock's solo Nobel Prize for discovering mobile genetic elements, a historic first for a woman in the category.

View details
Barbara McClintock·The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983
1988
Gertrude Elion
Science

Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Elion received the Nobel Prize for drug treatment discoveries.

View details
Gertrude Elion·Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1988
1995
Aung San Suu Kyi
Politics

Reappointed NLD general secretary

Defying a leadership ban, the NLD reappoints Suu Kyi as its general secretary.

View details
Aung San Suu Kyi·Burma: Chronology of Aung San Suu Kyi’s Detention
1997
Jody Williams
Activism

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Jody Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

View details
Jody Williams·Nobel Peace Prize 1997 - Speed Read
2000
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Politics

Death of Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Sirimavo Bandaranaike passes away at age 84.

View details
Sirimavo Bandaranaike·Sirimavo Bandaranaike - Wikipedia
2003
Shirin Ebadi
Activism

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Iranian and first Muslim woman laureate.

View details
Shirin Ebadi·The Nobel Prize: Shirin Ebadi Facts
2004
Elfriede Jelinek
Literature

Franz Kafka Prize

Awarded the Franz Kafka Prize in Prague.

View details
Elfriede Jelinek·Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women’s Writing
2007
Peggy Whitson
Aviation

First woman commander of the International Space Station

On October 10, 2007, Whitson became the first woman to command the ISS with Expedition 16.

View details
Peggy Whitson·NASA: First Female ISS Commander
2011
Bjork
Arts

Release of Biophilia, the first 'app album'

Björk released Biophilia on October 10, 2011, widely cited as the world's first 'app album,' integrating music, technology, and education.

View details
Bjork·Björk - Wikipedia
2013
Alice Munro
Literature

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

Alice Munro became the first Canadian woman and 13th woman overall to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, announced October 10, 2013.

View details
Alice Munro·Alice Munro – Facts – NobelPrize.org
2014
Malala Yousafzai
Activism

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at 17

Youngest-ever Nobel laureate, honored for her advocacy of girls' education.

View details
Malala Yousafzai·Nobel Prize — Malala Yousafzai
2018
Irinia Krush
Sports

Individual silver medal, 2018 Women’s Chess Olympiad

Krush earned a silver medal at the 2018 Chess Olympiad while playing for the U.S.

View details
Irinia Krush·GM Chess
2019
Olga Tokarczuk
Literature

Nobel Prize in Literature announcement for 2018

The Swedish Academy announced Olga Tokarczuk as the Nobel laureate for 2018.

View details
Olga Tokarczuk·Facts About Olga Tokarczuk
2021
Tatyana McFadden
Sports

Record 24th Abbott World Marathon Majors win – Chicago Marathon 2021

Chicago Marathon win on 10 October 2021 brings her to a record 24 Abbott World Marathon Majors victories.

View details
Tatyana McFadden·NYRR Athlete Media Center – Tatyana McFadden
2024
Han Kang
Science

First Asian Woman and First Korean to Win the Nobel Prize in Literature

The Swedish Academy names Han Kang the 2024 Nobel Literature laureate, the first Asian woman and first Korean writer so honored.

View details
Han Kang·Han Kang - Facts - NobelPrize.org
2024
Natalie Nakase
Sports

First Asian American female head coach in WNBA history with Golden State Valkyries.

First Asian American female head coach in WNBA history with Valkyries.

View details
Natalie Nakase·Valkyries' Nakase Becomes First Asian WNBA Coach
2025
María Corina Machado
Activism

Announced as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

María Corina Machado was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 laureate on October 10, 2025.

View details
María Corina Machado·Euronews Article