Activism > Labor Rights Archives

Charlotte Odlum Smith

In the 1880s, activist Charlotte Smith convinced the U.S. Patent Office to compile an official, comprehensive list of women who had been granted patents.

Lea Puymbroeck Miller

Professor Lea Puymbroeck Miller became a symbol of [the impact of anti-nepotism rules on women’s careers] in 1938.

In 1970, 60 women employees of Newsweek sued the magazine. Female researchers accused male writers and editors of taking credit for their work, including Lynn Povich, who later wrote a book about the experience, Good Girls Revolt.

Joanna Cohan Scherer

Joanna Cohan Scherer worked in the Smithsonian Institution’s anthropology archives for decades, starting in 1966.

Helen B Feeney

In 1979, Helen B. Feeney sued the Personnel Administrator of Massachusetts due to employment discrimination.

Maud Malone

Irish-American suffragist

Sylvie Shaw

In 1975, Mary Owen and Sylvie Shaw co-founded the Working Women’s Centre in Melbourne

Hilda Martindale

Irish social reform activist

Harriett Jenkins

Harriett Jenkins did her part to diversify NASA as the assistant administrator for equal opportunity programs from 1974 to 1992.

Hattie Canty

In 1990, Hattie Canty was elected the first African American, first woman, and first guest room attendant to be president of the Las Vegas Hotel and Culinary Workers Union Local 226, a role in which she improved conditions for tens of thousands of workers.