Women On Quarters
July 1- September 30, 2023
10/10
The Women
1. Maya Angelou
Writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou begins the Mint's roster and makes history as the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. quarter. She rose to prominence following the publication of her classic 1969 autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
🪙Read a book by an African American woman OR from the Christian genre OR by an author whose first or last name begins with M or A.
Playing with Danger - Deborah Fletcher Mello (HRS #2236 - July 2023) (African American woman) - July 1
2. Sally Ride
A pioneer in space exploration, Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman to walk in space and the first American woman to make two trips to space. First, Ride served as a mission specialist during the 1983 Space Shuttle Challenger STS-7 mission, in which she helped retrieve two communications satellites and conducted scientific experiments.
In 1984, she completed her second mission aboard the
Challenger, using the shuttle's robotic arm to release the Earth Radiation
Budget Satellite. After resigning from NASA in 1987, she focused on breaking
down barriers for young women in STEM with her own company, Sally Ride Science.
The company created immersive educational science programs for elementary and
middle school students, encouraging more women to reach for the stars.
🪙Read a book by an American woman OR with a character that teaches elementary or middle school students OR by an author whose first or last name begins with S or R.
A pioneer in space exploration, Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman to walk in space and the first American woman to make two trips to space. First, Ride served as a mission specialist during the 1983 Space Shuttle Challenger STS-7 mission, in which she helped retrieve two communications satellites and conducted scientific experiments.
🪙Read a book by an American woman OR with a character that teaches elementary or middle school students OR by an author whose first or last name begins with S or R.
Seven Birthday Wishes - Melissa Senate (HSE #2990 - July 2023) (Senate) - July 3
3. Wilma Mankiller
In 1985, Wilma Mankiller became the first woman elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Before her election, she founded the Cherokee Nation's Community Development Department, overseeing the creation of community water systems and the rehabilitation of houses.
Mankiller tripled membership in the Cherokee Nation
during her time as chief, saw lowered infant mortality rates, and doubled
Cherokee employment. She also worked with the federal government to pioneer a
self-government agreement between the Cherokee Nation and the Environmental
Protection Agency. Mankiller was inducted into the National Women's Hall of
Fame in 1993 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.
🪙Read a book by a Native American author OR with a Native American character OR by an author whose first or last name begins with W or M.
In 1985, Wilma Mankiller became the first woman elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Before her election, she founded the Cherokee Nation's Community Development Department, overseeing the creation of community water systems and the rehabilitation of houses.
🪙Read a book by a Native American author OR with a Native American character OR by an author whose first or last name begins with W or M.
Ozarks Double Homicide - Maggie Wells (HI #2149 - June 2023) (Maggie Wells) - July 6
4. Nina Otero-Warren
Nina Otero-Warren became the first Hispanic woman to run for U.S. Congress and led the New Mexico women's suffrage movement. The first female superintendent of public schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Otero-Warren emphasized the importance of using Spanish to make the suffrage movement accessible to Hispanic women.
In her education work, she promoted bicultural education,
citing the importance of preserving Hispanic and Native American cultures
within New Mexico. Her legacy is still timely today as activists work to offer
ballots in more languages and culture wars attempt to prevent minority history
and culture from being taught in schools.
🪙Read a book by a Hispanic woman OR set in New Mexico OR by an author whose first or last name begins with N or O.
Nina Otero-Warren became the first Hispanic woman to run for U.S. Congress and led the New Mexico women's suffrage movement. The first female superintendent of public schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Otero-Warren emphasized the importance of using Spanish to make the suffrage movement accessible to Hispanic women.
🪙Read a book by a Hispanic woman OR set in New Mexico OR by an author whose first or last name begins with N or O.
Dead on Arrival - Nichole Severn (HI #2099 - Oct 2022) (Nichole) - July 17
5. Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong became the first Asian American to appear on U.S. currency thanks to this quarters program. She is Hollywood's first Asian American movie star, appearing in silent films, theater productions, and on television. Wong dealt with racism and harassment throughout her Hollywood career, eventually prompting her to go to Europe and star in several English, German, and French films.
Wong's legacy can be felt in the #OscarsSoWhite and
#TimesUp movements of the present day, which advocate for more conscious,
authentic diversity in film and urge holding people accountable for
perpetrating gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment or assault in
the workplace and beyond.
🪙Read a book by an Asian American woman OR with a character who is an actress OR by an author whose first or last name begins with A or W.
Anna May Wong became the first Asian American to appear on U.S. currency thanks to this quarters program. She is Hollywood's first Asian American movie star, appearing in silent films, theater productions, and on television. Wong dealt with racism and harassment throughout her Hollywood career, eventually prompting her to go to Europe and star in several English, German, and French films.
🪙Read a book by an Asian American woman OR with a character who is an actress OR by an author whose first or last name begins with A or W.
Ozarks Witness Protection - Maggie Wells (HI #2155 - July 2023) (Wells) - July 7
6. Bessie Coleman
A talented pilot, Bessie Coleman also made history as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot and the first African American to earn an international pilot's license. After being refused admission into U.S. flying schools, Coleman traveled to Paris and eventually received her international pilot's license from France's Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
She became known for her daring feats at air shows,
performing "loop-the-loops" and making a figure As her fame grew,
Coleman toured the United States giving flight lessons and encouraging young
African Americans and women to pursue aviation. Her legacy remains an important
example, given the meager 8.4% of U.S. pilots who are women today, according to
2020 Federal Aviation Administration data.
🪙Read a book by a woman OR with a character who is a pilot OR by an author whose first or last name begins with B or C.
A talented pilot, Bessie Coleman also made history as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot and the first African American to earn an international pilot's license. After being refused admission into U.S. flying schools, Coleman traveled to Paris and eventually received her international pilot's license from France's Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
🪙Read a book by a woman OR with a character who is a pilot OR by an author whose first or last name begins with B or C.
Awakening His Shy Duchess - Christine Merrill (HH #1732 - July 2023) (first name - C) - July 5
7. Edith Kanakaʻole
Throughout her life, Hawaiian composer, chanter, educator, and Kuma Hula Edith Kanakaʻole was dedicated to celebrating and promoting the preservation of native Hawaiian culture. Kanakaʻole did this by composing oli (Hawaiian chants), choreographing hula dances, and teaching these skills to others. She also worked to help create the first Hawaiian language program for public school students.
She created college courses and seminars in the 1970s on
under-taught subjects like Hawaiian chant and mythology, ethnobotany, and
Polynesian history. During a time when the importance of teaching about
Indigenous culture and history was still being debated in the mainstream,
Kanakaʻole's efforts were ahead of her time.
🪙Read a book set in Hawaii OR with a character who is a singer, dancer or teacher OR by an author whose first or last name begins with E or K.
Throughout her life, Hawaiian composer, chanter, educator, and Kuma Hula Edith Kanakaʻole was dedicated to celebrating and promoting the preservation of native Hawaiian culture. Kanakaʻole did this by composing oli (Hawaiian chants), choreographing hula dances, and teaching these skills to others. She also worked to help create the first Hawaiian language program for public school students.
🪙Read a book set in Hawaii OR with a character who is a singer, dancer or teacher OR by an author whose first or last name begins with E or K.
Their Royal Baby Gift - Kandy Shepherd (HR #4735 - Nov 2020) (Kandy) - July 10
8. Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt held many titles: first lady, writer, and chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, just to name a few. Roosevelt became active in politics in the 1920s, promoting women's political engagement through organizations like the Women's Trade Union League and the League of Women Voters.
As first lady, she was known for her hands-on approach,
visiting relief projects across the country to lend her support. She remained
politically active later in life, notably when former President Harry Truman
appointed her to the United Nations. Roosevelt worked on drafting the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which the U.N. General Assembly adopted in 1948.
🪙Read a book by or about a First Lady of the US OR with a character who is involved in politics OR by an author whose first or last name begins with E or R.
Eleanor Roosevelt held many titles: first lady, writer, and chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, just to name a few. Roosevelt became active in politics in the 1920s, promoting women's political engagement through organizations like the Women's Trade Union League and the League of Women Voters.
🪙Read a book by or about a First Lady of the US OR with a character who is involved in politics OR by an author whose first or last name begins with E or R.
Ilsa's Protector - Regan Black, Janie Crouch (Calamitte Jane Pub - July 2023) (Regan) - July 5
9. Jovita Idar
Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist Jovita Idár used her writing and organizing efforts to fight for a better future for her fellow Latin Americans. Idár was exposed to the power of journalism from a young age. Her parents ran the progressive, Spanish-language newspaper La Crónica, which exposed injustices toward Mexican Texans in the early 20th century. This encouraged her to pursue activism.
She helped organize the First Mexican Congress in 1911
(which launched Mexican Americans' civil rights movement). She founded the
League of Mexican Women (one of the first Latina feminist organizations) and
became its first president. Idár was also passionate about education, launching
El Etudiante, a weekly bilingual education newspaper for teachers, encouraging
them to help bilingual students preserve their cultures. Idár used journalism
to speak on behalf of Latin Americans in several other publications, including
El Progreso, El Eco del Golfo, and La Luz.
🪙Read a book by a Mexican American author OR with a journalist character OR by an author whose first or last name begins with J or I.
Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist Jovita Idár used her writing and organizing efforts to fight for a better future for her fellow Latin Americans. Idár was exposed to the power of journalism from a young age. Her parents ran the progressive, Spanish-language newspaper La Crónica, which exposed injustices toward Mexican Texans in the early 20th century. This encouraged her to pursue activism.
🪙Read a book by a Mexican American author OR with a journalist character OR by an author whose first or last name begins with J or I.
Montana Silence - Josie Jade, Janie Crouch (Calamitte Jane Pub - July 2023) (Josie Jade) - July 18
10. Maria Tallchief
Part of the Osage Tribe, Maria Tallchief is widely recognized as America's first prima ballerina. Throughout her career, Tallchief danced and worked for prestigious companies like the New York City Ballet and the Chicago City Ballet. Even as she gained acclaim, she refused to erase her heritage, keeping the Tallchief name in the spotlight rather than changing it to a seemingly more prestigious Russian-sounding name valued in the ballet world.
After retiring from dancing full-time, Tallchief sought
to empower Native Americans by speaking to them and others about Native arts
and education. She also helped raise funds for the Smithsonian's National
Museum of the American Indian. Her legacy lives on in the ballet dancers of
color in the U.S., though the art form continues to battle its "ballet
blanc" problem.
🪙Read a book set in NYC or Chicago OR with a character who is a ballerina OR by an author whose first or last name begins with M or T.
Part of the Osage Tribe, Maria Tallchief is widely recognized as America's first prima ballerina. Throughout her career, Tallchief danced and worked for prestigious companies like the New York City Ballet and the Chicago City Ballet. Even as she gained acclaim, she refused to erase her heritage, keeping the Tallchief name in the spotlight rather than changing it to a seemingly more prestigious Russian-sounding name valued in the ballet world.
🪙Read a book set in NYC or Chicago OR with a character who is a ballerina OR by an author whose first or last name begins with M or T.
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