Recognize National Women’s History Week in March

The Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Park Service, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art all recognize March as National Women’s History Month.

Recognizing the month began in 1981 when the United States Congress requested that presidents proclaim and recognize a week in March as National Women’s History Week. Congress passed joint resolutions over the following five years recognizing a week in March to celebrate women in history.

In 1987, the National women’s History Project petitioned Congress to make March National Women’s History Month. Congress passed subsequent resolutions between 1988 and 1994 recognizing the month. Since 1995, presidents have recognized and signed proclamations designating March as National Women’s History Month to commemorate and encourage the “study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history,” according to womenshistorymonth.gov.

The theme for this year’s National Women’s History Month is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” as a tribute to frontline workers and caregivers and their ceaseless work during the pandemic.

“Women have long advocated for compassionate treatments and new directions in public health and in women’s mental and physical health. Women have also historically led the way in mending divisions, healing wounds, and finding peaceful solutions” according to The National Women’s History Alliance.