Pioneering women who led and won struggles for equality and civil rights; created and advanced educational and professional opportunities; and made great contributions to the arts, sciences and humanistic causes are honored each year during the month of March — National Women's History Month.

General History

Chronology of women worldwide: people, places & events that shaped women's history by Lynne Brakeman, editor ; Susan Gall, managing editor

Extraordinary women of the Medieval and Renaissance world: a biographical dictionary by Carole Levin ... [et al.]

Notable Black American women by Jessie Carney Smith, editor

Notable women in world government by edited by the editors of Salem Press

The reader's companion to U.S. women's history by editors, Wilma Mankiller ... [et al.]

Women in the Middle Ages: an encyclopedia by edited by Katharina M. Wilson and Nadia Margolis

Women's firsts by Caroline Zilboorg, editor ; Susan B. Gall, managing editor ; foreword by Christine Todd Whitman

Women's roles in ancient civilizations: a reference guide by edited by Bella Vivante

American History

Founding mothers: the women who raised our nation by Cokie Roberts — The author brings to light the stories of the women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, sometimes even defending their very doorsteps from British occupation. The book brings to life the everyday trials, extraordinary triumphs, and often surprising stories of Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Reed Franklin, Eliza Pinckney, Martha Washington, and other patriotic and passionate women, each of whom played a role in raising our nation.

Glory, passion, and principle: the story of eight remarkable women at the core of the American Revolution by Melissa Lukeman Bohrer — The story of eight incredible women, each deprived of formal education, world travel or equal status, who all managed to flourish against incredible odds. Each chapter features a different woman, each of whom helped found our nation with courage, sacrifice and intellect equal to any of the famed male politicians of 1776: Abigal Adams, Nancy Ward, Sybil Ludington, Mollie Pitcher, Deborah Sampson, Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren and Lydia Darragh.

More Colonial women: 25 pioneers of early America by Carole Chandler Waldrup — Presents brief biographies of 25 colonial women who contributed to the development of the United States. Women profiled include Lucy Winthrop Downing (who lobbied for the establishment of Harvard College) and Mary Katherine Goddard (who owned and operated a profitable printing business).

Revolutionary mothers: women in the struggle for America's independence by Carol Berkin — Explores women's roles in creating a new nation during the American Revolution and its aftermath, as revealed in the words and actions of individual women. The accounts include well-known figures — Abigail Adams, Deborah Franklin, Lucy Knox, Martha Washington — as well as ordinary white, Native American and African American women taking care of their families; keeping farms and shops; and boycotting British-manufactured goods.

What every American should know about women's history: 200 events that shaped our destiny by Christine Lunardini — From Anne Hutchinson to Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Betty Friedan, American women have been at the forefront of the battle to extend the benefits of liberty to all Americans. The 200 key events featured range from early colonial times to our own century, covering such issues as work, family life, social reform and equal rights.

Women's early American historical narratives by edited with an introduction and notes by Sharon M. Harris — In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many women began to write historical analysis, taking on an essential role in defining the new American Republicanism. The writings in this collection employ a range of approaches: reportage, poetical narratives, travel writing, drama, and accounts designed to promote critical thinking — training women rarely received through traditional education.

Women's letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the present by edited by Lisa Grunwald & Stephen J. Adler — Historical events of the last three centuries come alive through these women's correspondences — often their only form of public expression. The letters gathered here offer fresh insight into the personal milestones in women's lives. With more than 400 letters and over 100 photographs, this work is one of astonishing breadth and scope, and a testament to the women who lived — and made — history.

Frontier Women

Gold rush women by Claire Rudolf Murphy & Jane G. Haigh — The riveting stories of adventurous women — miners, madams, merchants and mothers — who went North during the gold rush era.

Home on the range: a culinary history of the American West by Cathy Luchetti — A chronicle of the roots of American frontier cooking, in anecdotes, pioneer writing and vintage photographs.

Women of the West by Cathy Luchetti in collaboration with Carol Olwell — A myth-shattering look at the women who helped to settle the West, told through their own words and illustrated with 150 period photographs.

Michigan Women

Birchbark belles: women on the Michigan frontier by edited by Larry B. Massie — The stories of 31 diverse women of the Michigan frontier — from 1824 Detroit to 1868 Benzie County.

Historic women of Michigan: a sesquicentennial celebration by edited by Rosalie Riegle Troester — Biographical essays of nominees and honorees in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Includes Sojourner Truth, Harriet Arnow and Marguerite de Angeli.

Michigan women firsts and founders by Rachel Brett Harley and Betty MacDowell — Brief biographical information of Michigan women pioneers in their fields, including aviation, science, law, labor, education and medicine.

African American Women

Epic lives: one hundred black women who made a difference by Jessie Carney Smith, editor ; foreword by Stephanie Stokes Oliver — This collection of short biographies illuminates the achievements of women who have made an indelible imprint in the lives of those they touched. Includes Maya Angelou, Ida B Wells Barnett, Mary McLeod Bethune, Bessie Coleman, Marian Wright Edelman, Althea Gibson, Lorraine Hansberry, Barbara Jordan, Coretta Scott King, Wilma Rudolph, Harriet Tubman and many more.

Fifty Black women who changed America by Amy Alexander — From Harriet Tubman to Oprah Winfrey, vivid detailed portraits tell the story of each woman's personal journey and contribution to society.

Women in Science

Medicine women: the story of early-American women doctors by Cathy Luchetti — The early-American female doctor comes vividly to life through her own writings, which have been incorporated into this book The stories of these medical pioneers are accompanied by more than 50 stunning photographs.

Women in Sports

The girls of summer: the U.S. women's soccer team and how it changed the world by Jere Longman — The author takes a serious, compelling look at the women who won the 1999 World Cup.

Women at play: the story of women in baseball by Barbara Gregorich — Soon after professional baseball started up in 1869, women formed "base ball clubs" and — wearing heavy stockings and striped, shortened dresses — challenged men's teams across the country. In 1943 the first and only women's professional baseball league was born when nearly 600 women, all of them skilled athletes, earned a living by playing on all-female baseball teams in the All-American Girls Baseball League. Includes interviews with many of the women who made baseball history.

Women in the Military

All the daring of the soldier: women of the Civil War armies by Elizabeth D. Leonard — A fascinating account of women who defied convention to do battle for their cause. During the Civil War, women worked as spies and sometimes disguised themselves as male soldiers to play an heroic part in the conflict.

American women in World War I: they also served by Lettie Gavin — Recounts the role of U.S. women in military and relief efforts at home and abroad. Drawing heavily from interviews, diaries, letters and memoirs, this work describes service in the Navy, Marines, Signal Corp, Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, and as Army Nurses, reconstruction aides and physicians.

Masquerade: the life and times of Deborah Sampson, Continental soldier by Alfred F. Young — The remarkable story of the woman who fought in the American Revolution as Robert Shurtliff — and got away with it. Serving for 17 months during the period between the British surrender at Yorktown and the signing of the final treaty, a time when peace was far from secure, Deborah Sampson accomplished her deception by becoming an outstanding soldier.

They also served: American women in World War II by Olga Gruhzit-Hoyt — Thousands of American women joined military and civilian agencies to serve their country during WWII. Some worked under dangerous conditions, but most held routine jobs such as office worker and truck driver. Here the author presents the stories of those women who saw duty with the Army Nurse Corps, Women's Army Corps, Navy WAVES, Marine Corps Women's Reserves and the Coast Guard SPARS.

They fought like demons: women soldiers in the American Civil War by DeAnne Blanton and Lauren M. Cook — At least 250 women served disguised as men — in the ranks of both North and South during the Civil War. The authors reconstruct the reasons why women entered the armed forces, and detail women soldiers in combat, on the march and in camp.

Women warriors: a history by David E. Jones — An anthropologist tells the history of women in battle, from Cleopatra and Joan of Arc to Thusnelda, the Teutonic warrior, and the 20th century's Ming Khai.

Pioneering Women

Amelia Earhart's daughters: the wild and glorious story of American women aviators from World War II to the dawn of the space age by Leslie Haynsworth and David Toomey — In 1942, with war raging on two fronts and military pilots in short supply, the U.S. Army Air Force enlisted a handful of skilled female aviators to deliver military planes from factories to air bases, expanding the successful program to include more than one thousand women. These superb pilots flew every aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Force — including B-26s when men were afraid to — logging more than six million miles in all kinds of weather.

Legends: women who have changed the world through the eyes of great women writers by edited by J. Miller ; introduction by Anjelica Huston

Lighting the way: nine women who changed modern America by Karenna Gore Schiff — The author captures the lives of nine extraordinary women whose impact on contemporary America resonates today, and chronicles how these remarkable women worked behind the scenes and against the odds in the major political movements of the last century. The stories collected included the triumph of women's suffrage, the decision to enter World War II, the struggle for civil rights, and the effort to address the AIDS crisis.

The 100 most influential women: a ranking past and present by Deborah G. Felder — This ranking of the most influential women was compiled with the aid of women's studies professors and chairs from leading U.S. universities. Choices range from the instantly recognizable to the virtually unknown in all fields of social reform, politics, literature and entertainment.

Outrageous women of the Middle Ages by Vicki León — The stories of 15 women who defied the conventions of their times — from Lady Murasaki of Japan, the world's first novelist, to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most celebrated queen of the Middle Ages. Covering cultures from A.D. 500 to 1400 and from around the world, this work offers enlightening profiles of the outrageous and off-beat women of this period.

Remarkable women of the twentieth century by Kristen Golden and Barbara Findlen — Profiles and compelling photos of 100 dynamic women of the 20th century. Includes leaders, creators, rebels, pioneers, stars, advocates, visionaries and daredevils.

Sisterhood of spies: the women of the OSS by Elizabeth P. McIntosh — The fascinating story of the 4,000 women who made up one-fifth of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, told by one of their own.

The warrior queens by Antonia Fraser — In a series of cleverly linked biographies, the author tells the stories of a long line of history's "warrior queens." She begins with the British queen Boadicea, who in A.D. 60 led a massive but doomed rebellion against the Roman occupation and ends with the modern trio of Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher. Women covered in between these times include Isabella of Spain, Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great.

Websites

Amelia Bloomer Project — In the midst of growing political and social conservatism, courageous authors, illustrators, editors and publishers continue to create risk-taking and life-changing books about girls and women. The Amelia Bloomer Project selects and compiles a list of many of these books

Civil War Women — Links to primary sources on the Internet that are directly related to women and the Civil War. Includes diaries, letters and a link to a photograph database.

Distinguished Women of Past and Present — Biographies of women who have contributed to our culture in many different ways — writers, educators, scientists, heads of state, politicians, civil rights crusaders, artists, entertainers, and many others.

The Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame — The Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame displays cultural and historical exhibits on the accomplishments and achievements of Michigan women. The Center is also home of the Belen Gallery in which the work of Michigan artists and photographers is shown.

National First Ladies Library — The only complete bibliography in existence including all of America's First Ladies.

National Women's History Project — The mission of this nonprofit educational program is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.

300 Women Who Changed the World — In profiling 300 women who changed the world, Encyclopaedia Britannica has chosen those whose contributions have endured through the ages. Features a variety of resources, including a study guide and a media gallery with audio and visual clips.

Women's Labor History Links — From the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), this page provides links to information on women in the labor movement.