Honored: 1976 (1901 - 1978)
Trailblazing anthropologist whose book, Coming of Age in Samoa, caused scientific and social rethinking of adolescence. Mead's career included the study of numerous tribes as well as extensive and innovative field work.
Honored: 1981 (1879 - 1966)
Nurse and social reformer. After seeing many poor women in New York City damaged and dying from attempts to end unwanted pregnancies, she fought for reform. Sanger underwent arrests and imprisonment for distributing information on birth control and contraception.
Honored: 1973 (1897 - 1995)
Beginning her political career by assuming her deceased husband's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, she ran for and became a U.S. Senator from Maine. Margaret Chase Smith served four terms and was an advocate for a strong national defense.
Honored: 1994 (1818 - 1889)
An astronomer who discovered a new comet in 1847, Maria Mitchell was the first woman named to membership in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. She was also a founder of the Association for the Advancement of Women.
Honored: 1996 (1925 - 2013)
Prima ballerina with the New York City Ballet and artistic director for the Lyric Opera Ballet in Chicago. Tallchief created a distinctive style and interpretation which continues to influence contemporary ballet. She used her international acclaim to bring about greater understanding and appreciation of Native Americans.
Honored: 1996 (1906 - 1972)
First U.S. woman and second woman ever to win the Nobel Prize in Physics. The Prize was awarded for developing the shell model of the nucleus of the atom, the basic model for the description of nuclear properties. Goeppert Mayer was also a member of the team that first isolated fissionable uranium 235.
Honored: 1973 (1902 - 1993)
First African American singer to perform with the Metropolitan Opera. An international star, Anderson was a brilliant musician whose talents helped shatter the color barrier for other African American performers.
Honored: 2001 (1864 - 1935)
Founder of Zonta (1919, Buffalo, NY), a worldwide organization of women business and professional leaders dedicated to improving the legal, political, and economic status of women. Membership now runs 35,000 with 1,214 clubs in 68 countries.
Honored: 1993 (1939 - )
Attorney and civil rights advocate who founded the Children's Defense Fund, the nation's strongest advocacy group for children. A passionate champion for youth, Edelman's organization works on health care and assistance for homeless children.
Honored: 2000 (1890 - 1998)
A journalist with the Miami News Record, she was an active leader in the Florida suffrage movement and an environmentalist credited with saving the Everglades as a national resource. Douglas authored over ten books and several plays, including The Everglades: River of Grass. After receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993 at the age of 103, she remained an active and influential environmentalist to her death.
