Books for Girls on Famous Women in History, Science and Medicine
Book List of Famous Women in History for Tweens
My tween-age daughters were wondering why they weren't learning about famous women in history in their classes at school. Since I couldn't come up with a really good answer for them, I went in search of books that I could get them about famous women in history. Not stopping there, I also looked for books on famous women in medicine and in science.
In addition I also searched for lenses by Squidoo lensmasters on women in history, world leaders, women who dared, medicine, science and inventors, Nobel Prize Winners and women in the military.
The result is this list of recommended books, resources and links for girls, tweens and women (and anyone else) who wants to find out more about famous women in history, science and medicine and those who dared in many different fields.
The books listed here are great inspiring gifts, particularly if you know an aspiring girl who might grow up to become a famous woman.
You might even want to consider gifting a copy of one of these books on Women in History to your school library or local library, so future generations of young women might grow up learning about the contributions of women. One particularly good book to contribute to a library is HerStory: A Timeline which features the contributions of more than nine hundred accomplished women.
Girls Think of Everything available on Amazon
Women have made up half the human race
but you could never tell that
by the books that historians write.
— Arthur Schlessinger, Jr. HistorianWomen Scientists at Work
Women Scientists: Standing Miss Nellie A. Brown
Sitting L to R: Miss Lucia McCollock, Miss Mary K. Bryan, Miss Florence Hedges
Available at the Library of Congress and at Amazon
Why do we need to read about Women in History?
Vote on Women in History, Science and Medicine
If you can remember learning about a famous woman in history, science or medicine, add the women in the comments section so we can see which women are being featured.
Do you remember learning much about Famous Women in History?
Girls Think of Everything
Including Women as Choices in History Projects
A look from a 2008 excerpt from NWHM's "First But Not the Last" Women Who Ran for President" event where Edie Mayo, Curator Emeritus, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute, discusses her granddaughter's history project that included Britney Spears as a potential historical figure.
Women Who Dared
These Women Who Dared include: Bessie Coleman, Susan B. Anthony, Maria Montessori, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Frida Kahlo, Julia Morgan, Maria Mitchell, Florence Nightingale, Margaret Sanger,
Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune, Margaret Fuller, Emma Goldman,
Jane Addams, Marian Anderson, Amy Marcy, Cheney Beach, Gertrude Bell,
Dorothea Dix and Isadora Duncan. Poster available on Amazon
Share the 'Young and Brave' with a Young Girl
The National Women's History Museum houses an outstanding online exhibit that features 30 young girls and women who had a positive impact on the United States throughout history.
The young women featured in the exhibit include athletes, inventors, artists, adventurers, guides and revolutionaries. The common thread is that they are all strong positive role models for today's young girls and tweens.
The exhibit was researched by Girls Learn International, curated by Doris Weatherford, historian and NWHM Board member, and designed by Nikki Emser.
Fortune Favors the Brave logo from the NWHM Young and Brave site.
The NWHM Online Exhibit Young and Brave
An excellent, motivational and inspirational resource for young girls and tweens.
- Young and Brave: Girls Changing History
Too often, young girls are unaware of role models who are similar to themselves in age and circumstance. Because they do not know of historic examples, girls too often feel forced to use questionable actresses and singers for their personal inspira
Organizations Looking at Women in History
Thankfully organizations like the ones listed below are tirelessly working to ensure that women's contributions and accomplishments get included in mainstream history and culture.
I signed up for Membership in The Cornerstone Club of the National Women's History Museum in honor of my daughters.
For more on supporting including Women in History, visit these organizations who are working on different projects.
- National Women's History Museum - NWHM
The National Women's History Museum (NWHM) is dedicated to reclaiming the missing half of history - women's history. Featuring Online Exhibits, women's biographies, and other women's history facts. - National Women's History Project
The National Women's History Project, founded in 1980, is an educational nonprofit organization. Our mission is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and progra - National Womens Hall of Fame
The National Women's Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit national membership organization that showcases great women and shape the lives of tomorrow's leaders. - Women's History Month (Library of Congress)
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute t
Famous Women in History
Reading about Famous Women in History
I do not remember learning much about women in history. I did see the Miracle Worker with Patty Duke, so knew about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. I read the Diary of Anne Frank and hear about the exploits of Amelia Earhart. Of course, I went through school at a time when Women's History Month was not an option in schools, so the topic of women's history was missing from education. I definitely did not learn much about women in science and medicine, which might have inspired me even sooner.
Madeline Albright pointed out in Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America the accomplishments of women were ignored, minimized, brushed aside or even forgotten, mainly because the scribes or those chronicling the historical events were recording the contributions made by men.
Thankfully these contributions of women are being recorded by a new breed of historian. These historians are writing books and telling the stoies about women who despite the barriers became lawyers, doctors and public figures. Books on famous women in past history like Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Sadako Sasaki and Lucy Stone and women in present history like Oprah, Diana and Kate are available for our daughters and granddaughters to read about and be inspired.
Books on Women in History
More Resources on Famous Women in History
- Education & Resources - National Women's History Museum - NWHM
Online Resources, Activities, Lesson Plans and Interactives that Educators can use on Women in History from the National Women's History Museum - Women in the National Womens Hall of Fame
A list of all the women who have been included in the National Women's Hall of Fame. A great resource for instructors looking to add more famous American women to their project lists. - Learn about women in history @ Educating Jane.com
At Educating Jane.com's Women in History Page you will find women from all over the world who are making things happen. - Curriculum - Lesson Plans - Women's History School Lessons and Curriculum Planning for Teachers and
Curriculum Resources: lesson plans and assistance with ideas and methods in teaching women's history from elementary school through middle school and high school or for rounding out a homeschooling curriculum. - CyberHunt: Women Who Dared
Women have contributed to the sciences for more than 4,000 years. Meet some of these scientists who dared to dream! Print this page to write your answers. - Women's History - Teacher Resources (Grades K-12) - TeacherVision.com
Recognize Women's History Month (March), by exploring the many important contributions of women, with our printables, lesson plans, and more. Find biographies and worksheets about accomplished women in American history. - Women's History Lesson Plans
A to Z Teacher Stuff ~ Teacher Resources, Lesson Plans, Themes, Tips, Printables, and more - Women's History Teaching Resources
Educational information, activities and resources for educators, families, and students from the Smithsonian. - Education World: Women's History Month Lesson Plans and Activities
Each March, Education World recognizes Women's History Month with new classroom teaching resources. This year, we're excited to bring you several valuable tools -- including a Women's History WebQuest, Women of the Century. - EducatingJane.com: Lesson Plans and Activities about Women in History and Women's Issues.
March is Women's History Month, here is a list of lesson plans to get you started. Use these lessons year round to incorporate women in history in your classroom. - Women in History | Thinkfinity
Celebrate the great achievements and discoveries made by women throughout history with lesson plans, activities and interactives from Verizon Thinkfinity. - Women Who Dared - Curriculum Connections
A collection of books on women who dared to defy convention. - Vintage Science Pictures: A Collection of Free Quality Vintage Science Pictures
Welcome to the vintage science pictures page. Please feel free to download and use any of the vintage science pictures featured below in your science projects, presentations, lectures, teaching.
Famous Women Leaders
Reading about Famous Women Leaders
In recent years there have been more women have been leaders of their countries like Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Angela Merkel, Corazon Aquino and Eva Peron. We have seen more women entering American politics as party candidates, party leaders and holding cabinet positions.
There have also been quiet leaders like Mother Teresa who though diminutive in stature was a giant in compassion and a model of faith and devotion.
In addition to the famous women leaders, there are the unrecognized leaders, the mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters who work quietly and diligently leading their families and communities. All of these leaders the famous and those quietly steering their families are inspiring our young daughters.
Books on Women Leaders
Famous Daring Women
Reading about Women Who Dared
Perhaps most amazing were the women to dared, those who were explorers, pioneers, aviators, astronauts, activists, oceanographers, racers and environmentalists. These were women who dared doing things that others were not doing at the time and attempting things against the odds.
Women like Katherine Wright, Amelia Earhart, Mercury 13 and Sally Ride dared to explore the sky and ultimately explore space, while Dr. Sylvia Earle dared to explore the depths of the ocean. Lucy Stone was one of many who dared to believe in equal rights for women. Susan Butcher became the first women to win the Iditarod dog sled race four times. There were other women, who were spies, pioneers of the wild west, women explorers and climbers.
Women Who Dared Books on eBay
Almost Astronauts reading level is for ages 10 and up
Famous Women in Medicine
Reading about Famous Women in Medicine
Women have been healers and keepers of medical knowledge since ancient times. Many women were shamans and midwives. In modern times they have been the nurses and some even became physicians.
Reading about women in nursing and in medicine like nurses Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton or physicians like Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Dr. Mary Walker and Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross may inspire young girls to become leaders in medicine.
Thankfully for my daughters, the thought of being a physician is not a foreign idea for them, since they are being raised by a mother who is a physician.
Books on Women in Medicine
Uncle Sam's Only Woman Chemist
Miss Margaret D. Foster, Uncle Sam's Only Woman Chemist
Available at Library of Congress and Amazon
Famous Women in Science and Invention
Reading about Women Scientists and Inventors
Women scientists have won Nobel Prizes, like Dr. Marie Curie (winning awards in Physics and Chemistry) and contributed to computer programming like Ada Lovelace, explored the depths of the ocean like Dr. Sylvia Earle and understanding "man" by studying and living with chimpanzees like Jane Goodall.
Women have also been inventors like Bette Nesmith Graham, who invented Liquid Paper; Dr. Yamile Jackson, who invented the Zaky an ergodynamic positioning pillow for NICU babies and movie actress Hedy Lamarr who developed the technology which ultimately lead to "frequency hopping" the technology used for Bluetooth, GPS, wireless telephones and other present-day communication systems.
For Christmas I am getting my girls, Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women, so they might be inspired to create even more of their own inventions.
Books on Women Inventors and Scientists
Famous Women in Nobel Prize Winners
Reading about Women Nobel Prize Winners
Since 1901 Nobel Prizes have been awarded in the areas of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace and economic sciences. Between 1903 and 2011 there have been a total of 43 Nobel Prizes awarded to women. Overall this is still a very small percentage (approximately 7 %), since women have received Nobel Prizes 43 out of the 549 times the prizes have been awarded.
Women have been award winners since 1903, when Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize for physics. She would also win another award for chemistry in 1911. Women have won prizes in all of the different areas including two prizes in physics, four prizes in chemistry, ten in physiology or medicine, twelve in literature, fifteen in peace and one in economic sciences.
Notable winners have been Pearl Buck for literature winning in 1938 and Toni Morrison winning in 1993; Barbara McClintock for physiology or medicine in 1983 and Elizabeth H. Blackburn in 2009; Mother Teresa winning for peace in 1979, Aung San Suu Kyi in 1991 and Wangari Maathai in 2004; Elinor Ostrom for economic science in 2009 and most recently Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , Laymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman for Peace in 2011.
Books on Women Nobel Prize Winners
List of Nobel Prizes Awarded to Women
- Nobel Prize Awarded Women | Nobelprize.org
Nobelprize.org, The Official Web Site of the Nobel Prize
Famous Women in the Military
Reading about Women in the Military
In researching this lens, I came across lenses by Nancy Carol on Military Women in Combat and the Story of the Women's Army Corps, which sent me in search of other resources about women and their contributions in the military.
Women have served many roles in the military and during wartime. They have served as soldiers and officers either officially as pilots in World War II or unofficially, in disguise as soldiers in both armies during the Civil War. Women were the nurses and some were even doctors who tended to the wounded. Women have also worked as spies, saboteurs and rescuers during war. Women worked behind the scenes in the factories during World War II playing critical manufacturing roles when the men were off fighting.
The Arlington Ladies (one of my lenses) are a small group of volunteers that ensures no soldier, sailor, airman or Coast Guardsman is ever buried alone at the Arlington National Cemetery. One Arlington Lady attends each service presents an official hand-written condolence card to the families of the fallen hero.
Books on Women in the Military
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History
Women Who Dared - II
These Women Who Dared include: Ida Wells-Barrett, Wangari Maathai, Sarah Bernhardt,
Carrie Chapman Catt, Sojourner Truth, Mourning Dove, Gabriela Mistral, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Edith Spurlock Sampson, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jeanette Rankin, Junko Tabei,
Margaret Mead, Aung San Suu Kyi, Gabrielle Chanel, Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker,
Wilma P. Mankiller, Lucretia Mott, and Karen Horney. Poster available on Amazon
History of the Books on Famous Women in History
Give a Book about the Many Famous Women in History, Science and Medicine.
— Holiday ElfWho is your favorite Famous Women in History, Science or Medicine?