Calendar

Jackson (1921-2005) was a Mathematician and NASA's first Black woman engineer.

Irene Morgan v Commonwealth of Virginia, 328 U.S. 373 (1946) Morgan (1917 - 2007) worked for a defense contractor on the production line for B-26 Marauders in Baltimore, MD, supporting the World War II effort. She had been recuperating with her mother in Gloucester County, VA, after suffering a miscarriage. She wanted to return to work and needed to visit her doctor, so she boarded a Greyhound Bus bound for Baltimore, MD, on July 16, 1944. There were no Black or White seat designations on the bus, but a Black person could not sit next to or across from a White person. A White couple boarded the bus at the Middlesex County, VA, stop. The bus driver ordered Morgan and her seatmate to move. Morgan's seatmate moved, but Morgan refused. The driver got off the bus and summoned the sheriff. The sheriff presented Morgan with an arrest warrant. She tore it up and threw it out of the window. When the sheriff grabbed her to remove her, she kicked him in the groin. That sheriff left and another came on the bus. Morgan said she was going to bite him, but he looked dirty, so she clawed him instead. The sheriff said he would use his nightstick on her, and Morgan said, "We'll whip each other."

Bolin (1908-2007) was an attorney and judge. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Yale Law School. In 1939, when she was appointed to serve as a judge on the New York City Domestic Relations Court (later renamed Family Court), she became the first Black woman judge in the United States.

Directed by Debbie Allen and set in 1930's Harlem, 'Stompin' at the Savoy' follows the lives of four friends as they navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and following their dreams in the vibrant world of jazz and swing dancing amidst the backdrop of World War II and the limitations imposed by class, gender, and racial prejudices.

Larsen (1891-1964) was a nurse, librarian, novelist, key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, and the first black woman to graduate from the New York Public Library's Library School. She is best known for her two novels, "Quicksand" (1928) and "Passing" (1929), which explored complex themes of racial identity, mixed-race heritage, and the struggle for acceptance in both black and white communities. She also made history as the first Black woman to win a Guggenheim Fellowship for creative writing (1930).

Sklarek (1926-2012) was the first African American woman to be licensed as an architect in the state of New York in 1954, and later, she became the first Black woman licensed as an architect in California in 1962. She was also the first Black woman member of the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA). These milestones shattered racial and gender barriers, blazing a trail for others to follow in the field of architecture.

“I have always wanted my art to service my people—to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential.”

Smith (1894 - 1937) was known as the Empress of the Blues and was preeminent during the Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance.

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded on April 15, 1960. After the student-led sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, ELLA BAKER, then a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), convinced the SCLC to invite student sit-in leaders to the Southwide Youth Leadership Meeting at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, over Easter Weekend in 1960. SNCC was officially formed during this meeting.During the meeting, Baker advised the students to be wary of a "leader-centered orientation" and urged them to focus on grassroots organizing and collective leadership. Again, in 1961, Baker persuaded SNCC to divide its efforts into two wings: one focusing on direct action, such as sit-ins, freedom rides, and peaceful protests, and the other on voter registration, particularly in the rural South.

Dr. Daly (1921-2003), an extraordinary biochemist and trailblazer, was the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry and the first Black person to receive a doctoral degree from Columbia University. Daly's pioneering research, spanning over 20 peer-reviewed publications, covered cardiovascular health, digestion, protein synthesis, and many other areas. Her work advanced the understanding of heart disease, cholesterol, and metabolic disorders.

Johnson (1914-2018), performed instrumental work as an attorney in repudiating the "separate but equal" doctrine in the landmark case Sarah Keys v Carolina Coach Company (1955).

Clark (1917-1983) is well known for her groundbreaking "Doll Tests," conducted as part of her master's thesis at Howard University. Using black and white dolls, she asked children a series of questions to study the psychological effects of segregation on African American children.

Hughes is the first Black woman to head a publicly traded corporation (Radio One, 1999).

Charlotte E. Ray was the first African American woman lawyer in the United States as well as the first woman to be admitted to the District of Columbia Bar. Charlotte attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C. (now called the University of the District of Columbia) and excelled in her studies.

Cagle (1959) is a Physician, U.S. Air Force Colonel (ret.), NASA astronaut, and educator.

"The First Lady of Song", Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was the 20th century's preeminent jazz vocalist renowned for her pure tone, impeccable diction, scat singing mastery, and critically acclaimed interpretations of the Great American Songbook. She was also the first black woman to win a grammy. Over her six-decade career, she set vocal excellence standards, influenced multiple genres, and amassed top accolades including 13 Grammys, 1 Grammy Lifetime Achievement award, and the National Medal of Arts.

Alice Allison Dunnigan was the first Black woman to receive White House press credentials, serving as Washington bureau chief for the Associated Negro Press from 1947 to 1961.

Admiral Howard (ret.) was the first black woman to command a U.S. Navy ship. She was the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Four-Star Admiral in the U.S. Navy and the first African American and woman to serve as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (2014).

Dr. Granville (1924-2023) was the 2nd African American woman to earn a PhD in Mathematics. During her career, she made significant contributions to the mathematics, space technology, and computer programming fields, including developing software for NASA's project Apollo, working on the first mass-produced computer in the world, and writing computer programs for NASA's Project Vanguard and Project Mercury. During her storied career, she also mentored Dr. Vivienne Malone Mayes and Dr. Etta Zuber Falconer, the 5th and 11th Black women to receive their Ph.D.s in Mathematics, respectively.

Burroughs (1879-1961) was one of the most influential women of the early 20th century. She was a businesswoman, unbowed social and political activist, and a key figure in the women’s suffrage movement.