MA Women's History Center

09/01/2026

Happy Birthday, Esther Rome (1945-1995), who co-founded the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective in 1969, which authored the groundbreaking book on women’s health and sexuality, Our Bodies, Ourselves! Rome worked to educate women about their health and brought awareness to the dangers of products like tampons and breast implants. MWHC partner Our Bodies Ourselves carries on her work and continues to provide educational information on women’s health. https://bit.ly/3sHyw9A

09/01/2026

The Massachusetts Women’s History Center (MWHC)’s flagship program, the Massachusetts Women’s Hall of Fame (MWHOF) Selection Committee, is excited to announce the inaugural class of HISTORIC women and organizations to be inducted into the MWHOF with LIVING Inductees (to be announced soon - stay tuned!) SAVE THE DATE: Monday evening, November 9, 2026! See the names, images, and bios of the HISTORIC women/organizations to be inducted into the MWHOF on our website -https://www.mawomenshistory.org/hall-fame!

09/01/2026

The MA Women’s History Center is terribly sad that Dolly Parton has passed away. Rising from total poverty, she wrote and sang songs that spoke to and uplifted women and men of all economic and social levels - of all races - she is immensely popular in Zimbabwe. Her talent and compassion are unparalleled. Dolly Parton passed away the day before Women’s Equality Day last week, and Fredie Kay, Founder & President , was honored to dedicate the Women’s Equality Day event in her memory.

We are so thankful that Dolly Parton joined with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to make the iconic, fabulous movie “9 to 5,” which was the name of a movement born in Cambridge, MA in 1972 by a group of Harvard University office workers! They went on to organize a national movement! “9 to 5” opens our extensive Exhibit on our website (curated by Katie Woods) “FROM ROSES TO RAISES: WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR JUST AND EQUAL PAY IN MASSACHUSETTS" about women and labor! Check it out: mawomenshistory.org. It begins with a quote from the song Dolly wrote and sang:
Workin' 9 to 5
What a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by
It's all takin' and no givin'”
–Dolly Parton, “9 to 5”

08/31/2026

Thank you so much for portraying Deborah Sampson with a terrific Oration at our Women's Equality Day event!

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

https://share.google/JTk7cjXMP5A6WEu0p

08/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person or on Facebook Live to commemorate Women’s Equality Day 2026! A huge thank you to all speakers and orator, and for having information tables at the event: League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Celia Canavan, Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement - Boston, Dana Alas, Mary-dith Tuitt, Georgina Arietta-Reutenik, Judith Kalaora, Lynn Paget, Danielle Kim, Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators! Deborah Sampson’s appearance in Revolutionary uniform and oration (via Judith Kalaora) was inspiring! And then: Fredie Kay and Danielle Kim of the MA Women’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee, announced the HISTORIC women who will be inducted into the first class of the MA Women’s Hall of Fame at a Gala event!!!! As 2026 is the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, HISTORIC inductees are from the Revolutionary Era. These women/organizations contributed mightily to the American Revolution! -Check out Mawomenshistory.org for more! LIVING women/groups of the first class of the MA Women’s Hall of Fame to be announced soon - stay tuned! Save the date: Monday evening, November 9, 2026 in Boston for the induction of the HISTORIC and LIVING women/organizations! ! More info to come. Thank you Axie Breen for your fabulous photos (more will be posted on our website!), Flashprint, the Swan Boats for dressing the Swans in their Votes for Women sashes! Boston Park + Rec TaylorRentals! Remember the last song in Suffs Musical: “KEEP MARCHING!”

08/27/2026

Happy Birthday, Sophia Smith (1796-1870), founder of Smith College (1870) and the FIRST woman in America to endow a college for women! With her large inheritance, Smith included in her will that her fortune should be used to create a women’s college. Today, Smith College is the largest privately endowed college for women in America, and is one the largest and most respected colleges for women in the world! Congrats to our many supporters who are Smith grads! https://bit.ly/45jZVwo

08/26/2026