Women's History Month 2024

Celebrate Women’s History Month with HCPL! What better way to kick off Women’s History Month than with a quote from this year’s All Henrico Reads title, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by author Cheryl Strayed:

“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told... I was strong.” – Cheryl Strayed, Wild

We invite you to attend a lecture, performance, or film at the library this March to learn about fearless women who had the courage to write their own stories, forge new paths, and impact history. Read on for more details about our upcoming programs and recommended titles about trailblazing women from our collection.

PROGRAMS

Maggie Walker: An American Pioneer
- Saturday, March 9, 2:30 – 3:30PM at North Park
- In celebration of Women's History Month, Theresa Gee will portray Richmond native, Maggie L. Walker. Learn about Ms. Walker's contributions to education, her "Penny Bank" theory, and how she became a financial genius and the first woman bank president.

Historically Speaking: What’s Your Sign? Ephemera and Women’s Activism
- Tuesday, March 19, 7 – 8PM at Libbie Mill
- In honor of Women's History Month, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture will join us to examine women's rights movements in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From protest signs to political buttons, participants will analyze how demonstrations evolved over time and engage in discussions of how women have shaped the country's political, social, and economic environments. This program is held in partnership with Henrico County Recreation and Parks, History Division.

Celebrate Women’s History Month with Barbara Johns
- Saturday, March 23, 11AM – 12PM at Fairfield
- Come meet Barbara Johns, portrayed by Theresa Gee, and learn about how a 16-year-old girl started a student strike that ended with the Brown v. Board of EducationSupreme Court decision against "separate but equal" public schools. Sponsored by Friends of the Library.

Women’s History Month Film Discussion
- Wednesday, March 27, 6 – 8:30PM at Twin Hickory
- In honor of Women's History Month, On the Basis of Sex(PG-13, 2018), tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, affectionately known as the Notorious RBG, during her early law career. Discuss how her landmark cases impacted her career and equal rights.

Ballot Battle: Richmond’s Social Struggle for Women’s Suffrage
- Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 – 7:30PM at Tuckahoe
- To highlight the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, this program will profile five Richmond viewpoints and the racial and generational tensions exposed by the fight for women's suffrage. Participate in this interactive history program "Ballot Battle" presented by the Valentine Museum.

COLLECTION

This list only scratches the surface of what’s available in our collection. Looking for more inspiring reads? Try our My Next Read service to receive a customized list of titles from one of our librarians!

PICTURE BOOKS