Celebrate Women's History Month

Just about a year ago I was anxiously awaiting acceptance or rejection of my first Associated Content article: 10 Mary's Who Changed The World* followed by
9 Marvelous Mary's*. It was quite an honor to make AC's Top 1000 list at the end of 2007 and I thank all AC Content Producers for that. I learned by reading your work and I appreciate all who have taken time to read my articles. I especially thank people who took time to encourage me and offer me special tips on writing for the web. My pen name and theme for those first two articles comes directly from my first name: Mary Alice. To celebrate my one year anniversary as an AC CP and Women's History Month I share more noteworthy Marys with you.

Mary Ruthsdotter* is co-founder of the National Women's History Project. The NWHP 2008 theme is "Women's Art: Women's Vision".

One of my favorite Mary artists is Mary Lou Big Canoe*. A Canadian of Algonquian heritage Mary's crafts included making rattles, drums, leather and bead work. However, she found her passion in carving. Her carvings are created from bone and antlers and she calls her work "Totem/Animal Spirits". Mary Lou also incorporates gemstones in some of her creations which can be viewed online using the link above.

Mary Mark Ockerbloom* is the Project Leader of a Celebration of Women Writers. The purpose of the project is "to provide easy access to available on-line information. The Celebration provides a comprehensive listing of links to biographical and bibliographical information about women writers, and complete published books written by women."

Among books you can read online from CWW is: Glimpses of Life and Manners in Persia by Lady Mary Leonora Woulfe Sheil*.

Mary Robinson* was the first female president in Ireland. After serving from 1990 until 1997, Mary served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002. Notable is that she was the first Irish President to visit Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace turning a page on Anglo-Irish history.

Mary or Maire Paticia McAleese followed Ms. Robinson as the second female president of Ireland. She began her second term of office in 2004. Interesting is one of her opponents in the 1997 election was Mary Elizabeth Banotti a member of the European Parliament.

On October 21, 1955, Mary Louise Smith (Ware)*, then 18, was arrested for failure to obey segregation orders and relinquish her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her father paid her fine. On March 2 of that year a 15 year old, Claudette Colvin was the first person on record who pleaded not guilty to the same charge, demanding a court trial. Both young women, like Rosa Parks who is credited with starting the civil rights movement with her arrest on December 1,
1955, were not sitting in the white section of the bus when asked to relinquish their seats.

There are many more noteworthy Mary's who have made a positive impact on history, as well as paving the way for the freedoms females in the United States enjoy today. Celebrate Women's History month by taking a moment to thank all the special ladies in your life. My thanks to all my sister Content Producers with a special shout out to Mary E. Coe* for her contributions to Associated Content. Mary's path in life has not been easy, yet she remains positive, upbeat and encouraging by sharing her poetry and stories. Thank you Mary and have a wonderful Women's History month.

Resources are listed in article links, noted by an *.