March is Women's History Month. Take a look into women's impact on Virginia's past, present, and future.
Since the earliest days of English colonization and even earlier among its First Peoples, women have played both starring and storyteller roles. This month, we celebrate those women, both past, present and future.
Join us for a look at the many resources for learning gathered here, visit a historic site or attend a special event honoring Virginia women.
Most importantly, consider the women in your own life and how they enrich the lives of those around them. Appreciate them, thank them, and share their history with your own families.
“Some women, while not included in the pages of a history book, have made contributions no less vital. Civic leader and social reformer Ora E. Brown Stokes from Chesterfield County worked tirelessly for a women’s right to vote and receive an education. Today, women constitute the majority of the student population at Virginia colleges and universities. Through strengthening and enriching society by impacting every field from business to medicine to government to the arts, women continue to nurture the family while fueling innovation, as well as the growth and success of tomorrow’s leaders;”
- Governor Glenn Youngkin
March 19-25, 2023
Women Veterans Week
In honor of Women Veterans Week March 19-25, 2023, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services presents a series of special events across the Commonwealth.
Mission: Virginia’s Women Veterans Program (VWVP) provides access to community resources to educate, unify, and empower Virginia’s women veterans, who have served in the military in all eras; by ensuring they receive timely yet appropriate transition and benefits support/ employment and education outreach; health and community advocacy.
Learn more about women in Virginia history at these locations across the Commonwealth.
These attractions provide great resources for learning more about women's history in Virginia.
Check out the resources below to learn more on women's impact on the history of Virginia.
Throughout the month of March, the spotlight is on influential women of Virginia's past, present, and future.
One of the First
Temperance Flowerdew was one of the two first English women in Virginia, arriving in 1609. She survived the 1610-1611 "Starving Time," and in 1613 took her second marriage to Captain George Yeardley, a prominent military leader in Virginia who became Governor.
In the early years of the Virginia colony, there were very few English women. To help the fledgling colony, the Virginia Company recruited and sent nearly 140 women from 1620-1622 to answer the requests from planters for wives.
The Self-Made Philanthropist
Sheila Johnson, a repeat member of Forbes' annual lists of America's Richest Self-Made Women, often uses her wealth to fund causes that help people of color and artists. She's a co-founder of WE Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in women-led startups.
Johnson's company is now ranked #25 among the nation's largest Black-owned businesses. She's the first Black woman to be an owner or partner in professional sports teams including the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA).
The Advocate
My Lan Tran is executive director of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit business organization. She advocates on behalf of over 47,500 Asian American companies in Virginia, which employ over 97,000 persons and create $20B in revenue annually.
Tran, who speaks Spanish, French, Vietnamese and English, came to the U.S in 1975 after the communist takeover of her country. Her awards include Small Business Administration Champion of The Year for Small and Minority Business and SBA Champion of The Year, Small and Minority Business – Commonwealth of Virginia.
To view the entire featured list of noteworthy women of Virginia's history click the button below.
