Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1966) was among the first professional and nationally acclaimed women photographers in the U.S. Her groundbreaking career spanned more than 60 years during which time she served as White House photographer to five administrations.

With her sharp wit and artistic talent, the political cartoons of Nina Evans Allender not only captured the news of the week, but also the spirit of women’s suffrage in the early 20th century. Her work helped to shape public opinion surrounding the cause of women’s rights.

In an era when there were very few female architects, Mary Jane Colter (1869-1958), broke with traditional European design to create groundbreaking commercial buildings with a distinctly Southwest American flare. Utilizing natural materials from surrounding landscapes and artifacts inspired by indigenous cultures, Colter’s unique style paid tribute to Native American, Spanish Colonial, and Arts and Crafts elements.

The granddaughter of emancipated slaves, Edna Regina Lewis was born in 1916 in a small farming community in Virginia. Later known as the Grande Dame of Southern cooking, Lewis inspired generations to return to farm-to-table cooking, and was among the first Black women to author a cookbook without concealing her race or gender.

In 1826, Ellen Craft was born into slavery in Georgia. Twenty-two years later, she disguised her race, gender, and social status, to enable her and her husband’s escape to freedom in Philadelphia. The couple became celebrated abolitionists, political activists, and educators.

Born Angelina Pauline Murray in Maryland in 1910 to bi-racial parents, Murray became the first Black person to earn a Doctorate degree from Yale Law School, was a co-founder of…

In 1782, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Continental Army. She fought for nearly two years in the Revolutionary War before her secret was discovered. Although other women concealed their gender in order to join the fight, Sampson was the first whose service was recognized by the government and the only woman to receive a full pension.

Classical composer Florence Price made history in 1933 when she became the first African- American woman to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor debuted at the Chicago World’s Fair to packed house of more than 4000 people. Price received multiple standing ovations and critical acclaim.

On May 3, 1955, 67-year-old Emma Rowena Gatewood told her adult children that she was going for a walk. Four months and 2,168 miles later, “Grandma” Gatewood, as she was known, became the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail…

More than 100 years before literary giants Amy Tan and Celeste Ng brought the Asian American experience to life, Sui Sin Far was a prolific author of fiction for both children and adults. She was also a travel writer, essayist, and among the first journalists to document the harsh realities facing Chinese immigrants in…