Although the news blurb above was produced for Black History Month by the U.S. Census Bureau, it pertains to Women’s History Month as well. Walker represents just one of thousands of female Virginians who influenced social, family, business, and political history within Virginia and throughout the world.

National Women’s History Month’s roots go back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Congress established National Women’s History Week during the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women’s History Month, and the president has issued a proclamation.

This year, try to make an effort to meet a woman who is involved in Virginia’s history. I was lucky – a very interesting woman named Ann Woodlief contacted me on 1 March, and I hope that we will develop a friendship. We definitely have interests in common – writing, genealogy, and Virginia’s Huguenots. Read more about Ann’s contributions to Virginia and to the Manakin Huguenot Society at James River Genealogy.