Did you know that the origins of Women's History Month actually began in Sonoma County? 

In the 1970s, although groups like the National Organization of Women (NOW)and ERAmerica were fighting to have the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified as the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, the topic of women's history was completely unknown in both the public consciousness and in school curricula. 

To address this perceived lack, in 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated the first-ever "Women's History Week" celebration.  The program was a huge success, with special programs in the schools, speakers around the county, an essay contest, and finally a celebratory parade held in downtown Santa Rosa as the finale of the week.

Upon hearing of the success of the Sonoma County program, several prominent women's groups began lobbying for a national celebration — and in 1980, President Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring the first-ever "Women's History Week," which was in early March of that year.  And in 1987, Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity.  

All thanks to the local community support in Sonoma County!  Yeah!

Check out this website and add your own stories to the ongoing fabric of women’s history:  http://1000memories.com/women-in-history.

You can include photos, narratives, and memories of your mothers, grandmothers, and heroines, alongside famous women from history. This website allows for a collective celebration of women's history and creates a place where current and future generations can be inspired by the role of women in history.  The idea is to create a single place where the women important in each of our lives are remembered side-by-side.

 What better way is there to celebrate Women's History Month, than to tell the stories of women who are important to you?