Important Moments in New York Women's History

NY women have a glorious history that should be celebrated – once we all know that history. From the clan mothers of the Iroquois Confederacy who chose the tribal leaders, to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton hosting the Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, to Sojourner Truth, emancipated in 1827, urging equal rights for all…..and on it goes to Margaret Sanger, Madame C.J Walker, Margaret Mead, Althea Gibson, Dr. Helen Rodriquez-Trias…..We have given the country great political leaders: the first woman Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, Congresswomen Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro, and Senator Hillary Clinton. The most significant and lasting leadership was offered by our own Eleanor Roosevelt.

Let's learn about them, together, and expand the long list to include the names of our newer leaders of today and tomorrow.

1848
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organize the Seneca Falls Convention

1872
In Rochester, N.Y., Susan B. Anthony voted for the the first and only time in her life and was arrested three weeks later for this crime

1917
The women of New York State win the right to vote 3 years before passage of the 19th Amendment

1928
Belle Moskowitz, an adviser to Governor Al Smith, becomes the only woman on the 7-member Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee

1934
Caroline O'Day is elected as New York State's at-large representative to the House of Representatives

1968
Shirley Chisholm becomes the first African-American woman elected to the House of Representatives, representing New York's 12th District in Brooklyn

1972
Shirley Chisholm becomes the first African-American woman to run for U.S. president

1984
Geraldine Ferraro wins the Democratic nomination for Vice President, making her the first woman to run on a major party ticket at the national level

1992
Nydia Velazquez makes history as the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House of Representatives

2000
Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes the first former First Lady to win election to the U.S. Senate

2006
Christine C. Quinn becomes the first woman, openly gay, and Irish Speaker of the New York City Council.

2008
Senator Clinton won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history and won 18 million votes in her bid for the presidency.