Jeannette Rankin (1880 - 1973)
First woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Rankin served two separate terms representing Montana, and was the only U.S. Representative to vote against America's entry into both World Wars. A lifelong pacifist, she worked for peace until her death.
Janet Reno (1938 - )
As Florida State Attorney, she helped establish the Miami Drug Court and reform the juvenile justice system. Appointed by President Clinton to be the first woman Attorney General of the United States, she brought a personal and professional integrity to the office during times when issues were divided bitterly along partisan lines.
Ellen Swallow Richards (1842 - 1911)
The nation's first professional woman chemist, an important figure in opening careers in science to women. By applying scientific principles to domestic life, Richards became a leader in the new disciplines of sanitary engineering, nutrition and home economics.
Linda Richards (1841 - 1930)
Received the first diploma awarded by the nation's first school of nursing. Richards dedicated her career to creating professional nurses training schools nationwide to improve both patient care and nurses' skills.
Sally Ride (1951 - )
First American woman astronaut (1983), when she rode aboard the Challenger into space. A scientist, Ride is now the Director of the California Space Institute at the University of California, San Diego.
Rozanne L. Ridgway (1935 - )
Foreign policy advisor under six consecutive U.S. presidents from Richard Nixon to William Clinton. Beginning in 1975, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; her last appointment was Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs. A former Chair of the Atlantic Council of the U.S., a foreign policy think tank, her work has spanned almost four decades.
Edith Nourse Rogers (1881 - 1960)
Massachusetts Congresswoman who introduced the "G.I. Bill of Rights" Act and Women's Army Auxiliary Corp (WAC) legislation. The "Bill of Rights" guaranteed veterans' health and education benefits (also small business loans). In addition, it supported research and development of prosthetic appliances. Rogers pushed for equality for women in and out of military until her death.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)
Trailblazing First Lady and wife of President Franklin Roosevelt. She spent her adult years working in politics and social reform. Her warmth and compassion inspired the nation, and she later became U.S. Delegate to the United Nations. The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights was largely her work, and she chaired the first-ever Presidential Commission on the Status of Women (1961).
Ernestine Louise Potowski Rose (1810 - 1892)
Early advocate for women's rights, traveling for more than three decades giving eloquent speeches and seeking petition signatures. Rose sought women's rights, the abolition of slavery and many other reforms before others took up the causes. From 1835 through 1869, she was often the first woman to speak in public on many platforms.
Sister Elaine Roulet (1930 - )
Crusader for some of society's most sharply disadvantaged, children of women in prison. A Sister of St. Joseph, Roulet has created many social reform and welfare organizations. She is best known for her work at the Bedford Hills Correction Center in New York, where she enabled mothers in prison to keep their babies for a year, a program now being patterned nationwide.
Wilma Rudolph (1940 - 1994)
First American woman ever to win three gold medals in the Olympics. A track and field champion, Rudolph elevated women's track to a major presence in the United States. She created the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to help train young athletes.
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842 - 1924)
African American leader from New England. Ruffin was a suffragist, fought slavery, and founded several organizations for African American women, including the Boston branch of the NAACP and the League of Women for Community Service.
