Leadership/Governance
Title
Leadership/Governance
Description
The leadership and governance collection highlights those women who dared to lead or govern. These women may have led countries or industries. They may have governed organizations or companies. Because women have historically been excluded from positions of power, it is important to acknowledge those women who were able to achieve positions at the top. Although a glass ceiling still exists in most societies, these women give us hope that someday that ceiling will be destroyed and that top roles in a company, government, or institution will fairly represent the half of the population comprised of women.
Collection Items
Frances Perkins
First woman to be appointed to the US Cabinet--as the Secretary of Labor, no less, in a time when wage work was considered outside woman's sphere
Hillary Rodham Clinton
First woman to be nominated by a major political party for the position of President of the United States of America. Former Secretary of State, former New York Senator, and life-long activist who continually challenges gender norms in US society and…
Madam C.J. Walker
African-American woman who started a successful beauty company and encouraged US citizens to see black women as beautiful
Shirley Chisholm
First black female member of the House of Representatives and first black female
candidate to run for a major party's nomination for President of the United States
candidate to run for a major party's nomination for President of the United States