Recently, actress Angelina Jolie wrote publicly about her preventative double mastectomy. The conversation around this has been fascinating: many people have discussed how much they appreciate Jolie’s statement that she does not feel like less of a woman, or that femininity has been negatively affected.  Others have remarked on the disparity in the American health care system, where the kind of private care Jolie received remains out of reach for many.

As a historian, I thought about her article in the context of the materials at Sewall-Belmont.  Many of the records associated with the later years of the NWP, or its sister group, the World Woman’s Party, deal with health concerns.  The Inter-American Commission on Women, signed into action in the very house where we still work and learn, focused on the state of women in both hemispheres, and how to most efficiently help them.

Be sure to check out the growing collection of digital records in our Past Perfect Online collections!

Rosie Napravnik is the top female jockey in America, with purses won in the multimillions.  She’s not only been the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby (actually, she’s ridden that race twice),  she was also the first woman to win the prestigious Kentucky Oaks in 2012.  She’s also been vocal about battling sexism in a sport known for its complex history.

Check out this article about Rosie; can you imagine an article about a male jockey talking about soft palms? This reminds me of a 1913 article we talked about during Women’s History Month, which called the Woman Suffrage Parade “a galaxy of beauties.”

Rosie has won over $48 million dollars; not bad for “racing like a girl,” right?

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Happy Wednesday!

Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist; her incredible scientific contributions include groundbreaking research into polio, and the structure of DNA.  Due to her sad, early death from Ovarian Cancer, she was never nominated for the Nobel Prize she has always deserved.

If you are interested in learning more about great female scientists, I encourage you to check out this book: The Madame Curie Complex. Many women have been excluded from scientific and mathematical professions over the years, which makes it all the more important to celebrate the contributions of those who do succeed.  Do you have a favorite female scientist or mathematician?  Share  a little about her in the comments.

DC isn’t the only place with special trees, though!  In April 1914 Nina Allender, Florence Bayard Hilles, and others planted a “suffrage pin oak tree” in Wilmington, Delaware.  Their zeal and perseverance are praised in the article and that oak is just one legacy that they left for us in their fight for equal rights!

Though small (it’s only about 1/2″ across!) this pin is an important part of the NWP collection.  Dating from the post suffrage period, this pin represents the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Believing in a spirit of equality was important for the NWP.  Julio Kilenyi’s work, based on the design of NWP member Vyvyan Donner, shows this spirit.

Vyvyan lived in New York City, where she was a costume designer for both movies and theater.  Her connections to Fox Movies, where she starred in Movietone Newsreels for the 1930s, led her to work with Julio to design this beautiful pin.

Want to learn more?  We have Question Producer pin on display at the Museum.  Take advantage of our new tour hours, and come visit!

Click here to sign up for a tour, and join us in celebrating the remarkable work of the NWP.

Unfortunately, this is not a recent development.  Equal Pay was long an issue for the NWP; in 1927, they commissioned Vyvyan Donner and Julio Kilenyi to create their emblem pin, called the Question Producer.

The man and woman are each supporting the world, under a 50/50 designation, highlighting their true equality.  Can you think of other rights the 50/50 can represent?  Leave your ideas in the comments!

In our next post, we’ll talk a little about the history of this incredible pin, and why it’s so special.  Happy Equal Pay Day!

Thanks to the internet, I found the survey the story references (here it is, if you’re interested!),  and the questions got me thinking about my work at Sewall-Belmont.  Two of the questions ask why you think voting is important; I had a difficult time condensing my thoughts into a few sentences.

I’m still thinking about my reasons: a government needs the consent of the governed, the importance of an informed populace in a democracy, how much the NWP’s work has influenced my life, how important it is for women to vote and express their political voice, and made me wonder: why do you vote?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.