Sarah Black was the first Mail Carrier in 1845 in Charleston, Maryland

 

The first known woman to be appointed as a mail carrier was SARAH BLACK in April of 1845. She lived in Charleston, Maryland and her annual salary was $48 per year.

Mrs. Linn, a post mistress in St. Louis states that great exertions are making in that city to secure the appoitment of Mrs. Linn, the widow of the late Senator Linn, as PostMistress of St. Louis. Her petition is signed by nearly all the Democratic members of the State Legislature.

   In 1862 the United States Post Office recorded five women who had been appointed postmasters directly by the President of the United States (not uncommon at that time).

They were Ann Gentry PM of Columbia, Missouri

Maria Hornbeck of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Ann L. Ruthrauff PM at Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mary Berard PM at West Point, New York

Margaret Sillyman, Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

 

[Usps.com/who-we-are-/postal-history/women-postmasters.pdf, accessed 4/8/21]

   It was especially challenging for black women to find jobs with the post office. In the free north before Emancipation and even after Emancipation they could find it to be difficult. Postmaster General Joseph Habersham was apparently

working toward being an equal opportunity employer. On the USPS web site [about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/african-american-workers-19thc.pdf] I found this quote from Postmaster General Habersham:

 

 In the North, and even in some areas of the South, blacks, including slaves, were being used as mail carriers by the post office. However, in 1802 Congress actually banned African Americans as mail carriers due to an unfounded fear that the slaves may be planning a rebellion.

 

The Ban in 1802 read:

 

…after the 1^st day of November next, no other than a free white person shall be employed in carrying the mail of the United States, on any of the post roads, either as a post rider or driver of a carriage carrying the mail.”

 

Finally, in March of 1865, after the end of the Civil War and after Emancipation, Congress passed legislation that read:

 

“no person, by reason of color, shall be disqualified from employment in carrying the mails”, [13 Stat. 515]”

This has been an excerpt from "In Her Likeness" https://amzn.to/3SurXip

Alice Austen Has a Museum in Staten Island, New York

 

1.     ALICE AUSTEN

Born 1866 in New York

Died 1952

 

Born Elizabeth Alice Munn. A photographer, Austen lived in poverty until the Staten Island Historical Society published some of her photographs in the book “Revolt of Women”, 1950.

 

·         Museum: Alice Austen House Museum, 2 Hylan Blvd,  in Staten island NY

·         School: Alice Austen PS 60 in New York

·         Gravesite: 2205 Richmond Road, the Moravian is the largest and oldest active cemetery on Staten Island, having opened in 1740

 

   This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

 

www.aliceausten.org

Accessed June 28, 2019

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7955241 offers a grand and detailed obituary

Accessed July 11, 2019

Alice Allison Dunnigan Has a statue in Pennsylvania

 

1.     ALICE ALLISON DUNNIGAN

Born 1906 in Kentucky

Died 1983  

 

First black American woman correspondent to receive White House credentials. First black female member of the senate and House of Representatives press galleries. Also the head of the Associated Negro Press Washington bureau for 14 years.

 

·         Statue: located at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC

·         Statue: Alice Dunnigan Memorial Park in Russellville, Kentucky

·         Statue: at the SEEK Museum, 511 East 6^th Street, Russellville, Kentucky

·         HISTORICAL MARKER: Park Square, E. Jefferson Davis Hwy, Russellville, Kentucky

·         PARK: Alice Dunnigan Memorial Park is located in the Russellville Historic District

 

   This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

http://www.wkms.org/post/newseum-display-statue-kentuckys-dunnigan-first-african-american-woman-cover-congress

Accessed July 10, 2019

http://www.kywomenshistoryproject.com/alice-allison-dunnigan/

Accessed July 10, 2019

https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/trailblazing-journalists/alice-dunnigan-trailblazing-african-american-journalist/

Accessed July 11, 2019

https://www.seekmuseum.org/

Accessed July 11, 2019

Agnes Hamilton Has a Statue in Indiana

 

1.     AGNES HAMILTON

 

Born 1868 in Indiana

Died: 1961

 

Founded a local YWCA. Hamilton also opened the first library in Fort Wayne, Indiana

 

·         Statue: Headwater Park, Fort Wayne, Indiana

 

  This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57743761/agnes-hamilton

Accessed July 8, 2019

Sarah Goddard and Mary Katherine Goddard

 

1792

 

   Sarah Goddard and Mary Katherine Goddard were known female Postmasters in the 1700s. The post office archives goes on to mention Ann Clay, postmaster in New Castle, Delaware. Elizabeth Creswell postmaster in Charlestown, Maryland and in 1792 postmaster Sarah DeCrow in Hertford, North Carolina.

 

   As we moved into the 1800s the number of women applying for postal jobs decreased, citing the low pay. The number of women employed by the post office and their pay scale seemed dependent on the man at the helm as Postmaster General and his personal views.

   Benjamin Franklin held the job only until 1789 when he was replaced with Samuel Osgood followed by Postmaster General Gideon Granger in 1814. P.M.G. Granger questioned the legality of appointing women in these jobs at all. The rise and fall of the number of women in postal jobs also would change during war time.

 

   But women persisted and continued to break through the barriers.

This has been an excerpt from "In Her Likeness" https://amzn.to/3SurXip

Lydia Hill and Molly Gill

 

According to the United States Post office web site, [usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/women-postmasters.pdf] there were two women, Lydia Hill and Molly Gill who worked as Postmasters throughout the mid 1700s in Massachusetts.

This has been an excerpt from "In Her Likeness" https://amzn.to/3SurXip

Adele Goodman Clark Has a Statue

 

1.     ADELE GOODMAN CLARK

Born 1882 in Alabama

Died 1983

 

Artist and Activist. Along with several other women founded the Equal Suffrage League. Served as first chair of the League of Women Voters in the year 1920. She became president of the League in 1921.

1922: was appointed to the Commission on the Simplification of State and Local Government.

1926: appointed to the Liberal Arts College for Women Commission.

 

·         Statue: Virginia State Capital, Capitol Square, 1000 Bank St, Richmond, Virginia

·         Historical marker: Brook Rd, Richmond, Virginia

·         Grave site: Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, Brook Hill, Virginia

 

 

 This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

http://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/destiny/notable/clark.htm

Accessed July 8, 2019

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35124173/adele-goodman-clark

Accessed July 8, 2019

https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=47379

Accessed July 8, 2019

http://womensmonumentcom.virginia.gov/index.html

Accessed July 8, 2019

First Lady Abigail Adams has a statue. But not all of the First Ladies Have One

 

1.     ABIGAIL ADAMS

Born 1744 in Massachusetts

Died: 1818

Adams served as First Lady from 1797 to 1801. She was married to President John Quincy Adams.

It is noted that one of the letters written to her husband, President Adams, encouraged him to “remember the ladies”. That women should be able to claim their own liberty. She expressed that she thought it wrong that women could not own property and that unlimited powers should not be given to husbands. She apparently went on to say that if attention is not paid to the ladies there would for sure be a rebellion and, “will not hold ourselves bounds by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

 

·         Statue: A statue of Abigail Adams and her son: 1306 Hancock St, Quincy, Massachusetts.

·         Statue: A statue of Abigail Adams, Boston Women’s Memorial, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Boston, MA

·         Portrait & Profile: in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, 76 Fall St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

·         BIRTHPLACE: 180 Norton St, North Weymouth, Mass. The actual home, built in 1685 is now a part of the Abigail Adams Historical Society in Weymouth. Abigail lived there until she was 20 years old.

·         GRAVESITE: United First Parish Church in Quincy, MA

 

Abigail is on the 22c stamp, unveiled June 14, 1985

 

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=2

Accessed March 2018

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4/Abigail-Adams

Accessed March 2018

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abigail-Adams

March 2018

This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

Abby Crawford Milton has a statue!

 

1.     ABBY CRAWFORD MILTON

Born 1881 in Georgia

Died: 1991 (age 110)

 

Milton advocated for a woman’s right to vote. She was the “Tennessee League of Women Voters” first president. In 1924 Abby, along with her step-son, managed the Chattanooga News until the 1930s.  She spent her later years writing.

 

 

·         Statue: Centennial Park, 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN

·         Statue: Tennessee Women’s Suffrage Memorial, Market Square, Knoxville, Tennessee

·         Historical Marker: downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee in a small park near: 100 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN

·         Grave Site: Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN

 

 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116531309/abby-milton

Accessed July 7, 2019

https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=74631

Accessed July 7, 2019

 

This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

How many statues of real women are there in each state?

 Since I originally published my book more statues have been erected! Especially in the New York area. But this was the standings at the time I published my findings:

New York State: 30 statues honoring individual real women

California: 26 statues honoring individual real women

Washington DC: 22 statues

Massachusetts: 13 statues

Oklahoma: 12 statues

Virginia: 11 statues

Illinois: 9 statues

Colorado: 8 statues

Texas: 8 statues

Pennsylvania: 8 statues

Tennessee: 7 statues

Utah: 6 statues

Oregon: 6 statues

Kentucky: 6 statues

Arizona: 5 statues

Florida: 5 statues

Hawaii: 5 statues

New Jersey: 5 statues

South Carolina: 5 statues

Ohio: 5 statues

Wyoming: 4 statues

Missouri: 4 statues

Nebraska: 4 statues

Michigan: 4 statues

Washington: State: 3 statues

Connecticut: 3 statues

Nevada: 3 statues

New Hampshire: 3 statues

Louisiana: 3 statues

Minnesota: 3 statues

Georgia: 3 statues

Idaho: 3 statues

Wisconsin: 2 statues

Indiana: 2 statues

Iowa: 2 statues

Maine: 2 statues

Maryland: 2 statues

Montana: 2 statues

Alabama: 2 statues

Arkansas: 2 statues

Alaska: 1 statue

New Mexico: 1 statue

Mississippi: 1 statue

Kansas: 1 statue

West Virginia: 1 statue

Vermont: 1 statue

Rhode Island: 1 statue

North Dakota: 1 statue

North Carolina: 0

Delaware: 0

South Dakota: 0

Please let me know if a statue has been erected in your state in the last 5 years. Thanks

Some quick, interesting facts about Women's statues, monuments and More in each state

 

The United States has at least 267 statues of real women. These statues are of individual, real women who lived. I have included a description and short bio on each of these outstanding women and I included the address for each site. What sites are in your area?

 

During my research I found many other historical markers, museums and monuments honoring individual women, raising the profiles included in this book to 363. At the end of the book you will find a state by state guide which not only includes the 363 women profiled that are in your state but also the location of Woman Veteran’s Memorials and other memorials and museums that honor the contributions made by women.

 

What criteria had to be met to be included as one of the 363 Profiles?

 

1.       There had to be a location you could physically visit.

2.       The location had to be in the United States.

3.       The location had to be in honor of a named woman that lived. Not simply a representation of the female gender.

 

 

The women honored across the United States were born in a total of no less than 20 different countries:

There was a portion of the women with an unknown birthplace.

 

About 284 of the women were born in the United States.

Nine were born in the United Kingdom.

Six born in Canada.

Four ladies were born in Italy.

Three from Germany.

Three from Ireland.

Two from Mexico.

One from Africa.

One from France.

One from Chile.

One from China.

One from Egypt.

One from The Netherlands.

One from Lithuania.

One from Ukraine.

One from the Roman Empire.

One born in Russia.

One born in Poland.

One was born in Luxembourg and one was born in North Macedonia.

 

State by state I also listed memorials and monuments to Women Veteran’s, Pioneers and more.  I found and included 62 museums throughout the United States that honor women or an individual woman. I hope you will check them out! You will find many Historical Markers throughout the book that marks the spot of an important site honoring a woman. 

This has been an excerpt of the book "Statues of Real Women" available for purchase in the sidebar: or via this link: https://amzn.to/3rmpFGe

Where are the Statues of Women and Who has been honored?

 Instead of getting defensive, how about we learn some facts about the statues we actually do have. 

What women have statues? 

Who has been represented? 

Does your state have statues? 

Which states do not have any? 

[excerpt] The women honored across the U.S. were born in a total of no less than 20 different countries. 

I also include 62 museums in the United States that honors real women who lived. Do you know where they are and which women they honor? 

Do you know which state has the most statues?

 Did you know only 12 First Ladies have statues, busts or are honored with a historic plaque? Which ones? 

Find out which woman has more statues than any other woman. The top three women with the most statues include a black woman, a native american and a woman not from the United States. 

It is also interesting to note that the birth date of the statues span from 69 BC to as recently born as 1978.

To find out the answers to all of these questions and more Statues of Real Women: https://amzn.to/3fqo5Ao The back of the book includes a state by state list.

Statues of Real Women

 Just in time for Women's History Month this book profiles 362 women, 267 statues of real women and 62 museums that honor women. All right here in the United States. I hope you will join me in learning more about the women that are familiar and be surprised and inspired by the many that will be new to you.