1870
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 detailsThis Day
10October
40 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1876
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 details1879
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 details1887
Activism
Birth of Saroj Nalini Dutt
Saroj Nalini Dutt was born on October 10, 1887, in Bengal, India.
View details1888
Arts
First woman member of American Institute of Architects
Became the first woman member of the AIA.
View details1890
Aviation
Birth of Opal Kunz
Opal Logan Giberson (later Kunz) was born on October 10, 1890, in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
View details1891
Exploration
Birth of Ingrid Christensen
Ingrid Christensen was born in 1891 in Sandefjord, Norway.
View details1898
1899
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 details1900
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 details1903
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 details1908
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 details1917
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 details1922
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 details1941
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 details1957
Literature
'Atlas Shrugged' published
Rand's 1,100-page magnum opus was published by Random House, presenting her fullest fictional expression of Objectivism.
View details1966
Arts
Premiere of "Joyce Chen Cooks" on WGBH
WGBH aired "Joyce Chen Cooks," a pioneering cooking show.
View details1966
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 details1966
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 details1969
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 details1974
Politics
Death of Lyudmila Pavlichenko
Lyudmila Pavlichenko passed away on October 10, 1974, in Moscow, USSR.
View details1977
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 details1980
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 details1983
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 details1988
Science
Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Elion received the Nobel Prize for drug treatment discoveries.
View details1995
Politics
Reappointed NLD general secretary
Defying a leadership ban, the NLD reappoints Suu Kyi as its general secretary.
View details1997
Activism
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Jody Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
View details2000
2003
Activism
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Iranian and first Muslim woman laureate.
View details2004
2007
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 details2011
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 details2013
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 details2014
Activism
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at 17
Youngest-ever Nobel laureate, honored for her advocacy of girls' education.
View details2018
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 details2019
Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature announcement for 2018
The Swedish Academy announced Olga Tokarczuk as the Nobel laureate for 2018.
View details2021
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 details2024
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 details2024
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 details2025
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