What is Women's History Month

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In the early 1970s, the Women's History movement gained momentum, and the idea of dedicating a week to women's history was proposed by the National Women's History Project (NWHP).

In 1978, they lobbied for a week-long celebration, which was first celebrated in Sonoma County, California. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8.

The idea grew, and in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women's History Week. Over the next few years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions to recognize Women's History Week.

In 1987, after being petitioned by the NWHP, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9, which officially designated the month of March as Women’s History Month. The following year, the first national celebration took place. Since then, every year, a specific theme is chosen to honor the achievements of women across various fields.