March is Women’s History Month, so I want to continue spotlighting inspirational individuals throughout the decades. The people highlighted here contributed to our world in significant ways from 1900 to 1950, which was a critical time for the advancement of women. Here are just a few tenacious women from this era who paved the way for the future:
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel was born in 1895 in Kansas and grew up in Denver, Colorado. Her talents were apparent early on, and she left school in 1910 to perform with traveling minstrel groups. She eventually found her way to the film industry, and landed her debut role in 1932. She’s best known for her performance as Mammy in the 1939 version of Gone With the Wind. She was the first African American to win an Academy Award.
Mary Cronin
Mary Cronin earned the honor of becoming the first woman to summit all of Colorado’s Fourteeners. A Denver Native, Cronin began her climbing career in the early 1920s. Her first recorded climb was in 1921, and by 1934 she had reached her goal of summiting every peak of the Fourteeners. She will always be highly admired by the Colorado Mountain Club.
Dr. Justina Ford
Dr. Justina Ford was Denver’s first female African American physician. Dr. Ford was born in Illinois, and was drawn to helping others at an early age. Her mother was a nurse, and she developed a love of medicine while accompanying her to see patients. Upon Dr. Ford’s graduation from medical school in 1899, she relocated to the historic Five Points neighborhood in Denver. She practiced out of her home, and became famous for treating individuals from all walks of life until her death in 1952.
Martha Gellhorn
Martha Gellhorn was one of the most accomplished war correspondents in our history. She covered nearly every major conflict of the 20th century, and stowed away on a hospital ship as the only woman to land at Normandy. Her impressive career spanned more than six decades, and she published several books and memoirs in addition to covering wars. Interestingly enough, she was also married to Ernest Hemingway but left him after an argument at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
Frances Perkins
Frances Perkins led the way in shattering glass ceilings in politics. She was the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, serving as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor. She was born into humble beginnings in New England and became a leading advocate for workers’ rights. Frances Perkins is credited for pioneering much of the New Deal.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart earned a spot in history as the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic. She made great strides in aviation throughout her short career, serving as aviation editor for Cosmopolitan and later working for Purdue University as an aviation advisor and women’s career counselor. In 1937, she set off on her journey to become the first woman to fly around the world. With 7,000 miles left, her radio lost contact and she was never found.
The period from 1900-1950 was critical for women. During this timeframe, an increasing number of individuals showed their mettle and achieved exceptional accomplishments for future generations. If you enjoyed this showcase of remarkable women, stay tuned for additional posts in this series in honor of Women’s History Month.