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August 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement:
The movement for women to obtain their rights…to be treated as citizens of the United States .… began when two women, Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia, PA, a renowned Quaker preacher and abolitionist and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of Seneca Falls, NY met at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Conference in London. Though sent as official delegates to the convention by their respective organizations, Mott and Stanton and four other American women were DENIED the right to participate. WHY? Because of their gender.
It is important to remember that, at that time, women did not have the rights we enjoy today. As far as the law was concerned, women did not have legal status. They could not vote, serve on a jury, seek higher education, and were barred from most professions. If married, it was considered her husband’s property, and even the clothes on their back were considered her husband’s. If they had a job, their wages would have to be turned over to her husband. If they were in business, the money made would be the husbands. This non-status would take 150-plus years to remedy and is still, in many ways, being challenged today.
Stanton and Mott became friends and corresponded over the years. In 1848, eight years later in Seneca Falls, NY Stanton and Mott along with three friends, Martha Coffin Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt, called The First Women’s Convention in the US…The Seneca Falls Convention. At this historic two-day conference (July 18-19, 1848 ) the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence was introduced and voted on. It was a document stating women’s equality. It was consciously patterned on the Declaration of Independence. The Convention adopted twelve resolutions, the most controversial of which was a then-unprecedented call for "the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise"—that is, the vote”.
Out of that historic two-day convention, the women’s movement began.
Later on in 1848, Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia and Jane Grey Cannon Swisshelm Of Pittsburgh lobbied to have the Marriage Property Act passed in the PA State Legislature. This act gave married women the right to own property. Sadly, the act was repealed in 1852 by the PA Court, which declared that the Married Women’s Act was unconstitutional. It would take another 39 years in PA for the Married Women Property Act (1887) to pass and become law.
It only took 72 years 4 four generations of strikes, protests, legislature maneuvering, lobbying, violent protests, marches, women being jailed, forced fed, beaten, and terrorized by prison guards, and being ostracized by family and friends to obtain the vote. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment entered into the U.S. Constitution.
On June 24, 1919, Pennsylvania was the 7th state to ratify the 19th Amendment. It happened in PA due to the women who picked up the torch of freedom that Lucretia Mott, Jane Grey Cannon Swisshelm*, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton ignited.
Our mission at the PAWHOA is to share forgotten stories, sacrifices, and almost insurmountable barriers overcome by women.
As you read this, I invite you to celebrate the women of the past who worked to obtain our freedom. We are thankful for the women who serve and continue to protect our rights.
We look forward to the day when the word “history” is changed, not to “her-story” but “OUR STORY”. May OUR STORY include all the voices of those who have brought us here today.
Yours for Sharing Women’s Stories
JoAnn Renk-Forrester, President
PAWHOA
412-670-4322
Spring 2024
THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
And being denied the right to speak…started it all!
Did you know that Friendship is what started the “shocking movement” for women to obtain their economic, civil, and political rights?
The movement for women to obtain their rights…to be treated more than property… began when two women, Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia, PA a renowned Quaker preacher and abolitionist, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of Seneca Falls, N. Y, met at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Conference in London. Though sent as official delegates to the convention by their respective organizations, Mott and Stanton and four other American women were DENIED the right to participate. WHY? Because of their gender.
Both Stanton and Mott were elected delegates from the organizations they represented, yet because they were women they were denied. They WERE assigned seats in an upper chamber of the hall and were supposed to sit there quietly and look adoringly at the men as they made speeches Needless to say that did not sit well.
It is important to remember at that time women, especially married women were subject completely to their husband’s will. A married woman could not own property, obtain an education, seek medical attention, participate in any activity her husband did not approve of, could not own a business, must turn over her wages to her husband, and even the clothes on her back were the property of her husband. This situation would take 150-plus years to remedy.
The two women became friends and resolved to change the status of women…from property to human being with rights. They corresponded and met over the years. In 1848, eight years later in Seneca Falls Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott were at a tea party with 3 additional friends, Martha Coffin Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt. They were discussing the restriction of their lives and decided to challenge the “system” and do something. Within two weeks of their meeting, they called The First Women’s Convention in the US…The Seneca Falls convention. At this historic two-day conference (July 18-19, 1848 ) the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence was introduced and voted on. It was a document stating women’s equality. It was consciously patterned on the Declaration of Independence. The Convention adopted twelve resolutions, of which the most controversial was a then-unprecedented call for "the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise"—that is, the vote”. Out of that two-day convention, the women’s movement started.
Two years later Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony and a powerful new friendship was born. Susan B Anthony was the one who for fifty years made thousands of speeches, traveled across the country delivered the messages often crafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Lucretia Mott continued her friendship giving support, and expanded her efforts to include the rights of women. Friendship and their common belief in the rights of women began the movement that would shape the United States.
It only took 72 years, 4 generations of strikes, protests, legislature maneuvering, lobbying, violent protests, marches, women being jailed, beaten, and terrorized by prison guards, and being ostracized by family and friends to obtain the vote.
Following the passage of the 19th Amendment, on August 26, 1920, Black women, Indigenous women, Asian American Women, women from many races and ethnicities, and women with disabilities still faced discrimination and voter suppression. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 that prohibited discrimination against all women regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability status, that women’s right to vote was protected; however, with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision however, with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Shelby Co. v Holder in 2013 decision opens a new window of risk.
Coretta Scott King wisely said: “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.”
This is why the celebration of women’s history is important. We must remember the sacrifices, the stories, and the voices of those before us. We must remain vigilant of those rights and preserve them.
As you read this I invite you to celebrate the women of the past and those today who are working to preserve and continue the rights of women. We salute the courage of those who demanded their rights and secured them for us. We are thankful for those today who are continuing their legacy.
We look forward to the day when the word history is changed, not to her story but to OUR STORY. May OUR STORY include all the voices of those who have brought us here today.
Our mission at the PAWHOA is to share the forgotten stories, remember the voices, and let them be heard. We look forward to having “our-stories” told in every classroom at every grade level.
If you would like to donate to us please click on the link below and contribute to us.
Yours for sharing Women’s Stories!
JoAnn R. Forrester, President
PAWHOA
JoAnn Renk-Forrester, President
PAWHOA
412-670-4322
October 2023
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement:
A sincere thank you to all those who sponsored and participated in our 8th Annual Spirit of the 19th Amendment Luncheon on Saturday, August 18, 2023, at the LeMont Restaurant. We had over 150 guests celebrating women and their achievements. We celebrated and marked the 103rd Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. In addition we also:
· Honored the 2023 Spirit of the 19th Amendment Honorees,
Dr. Margaret Larkins Pettigrew and PA Representative Mandy Steele
· Introduced the 2024 Women’s Voices…Hear them Speak Calendar©
· Presented the 2024 Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak Calendar Stars.
· Dedicated the 2024 Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak Calendar to our dear friend and board member, Ruth Byrd Smith. Ruth passed in March of 2023 and her service to us, and the community was important to honor.
As is our custom, the women featured in the calendar are women past and current who have made a significant difference in our community, region, and state.
It was a privilege to meet and celebrate several of the women whose current achievements we recognized—Susan Frietsche, Esq, Linda Stenson, Margaret Washington, Connie Feda, and Gina Kallick. Each women have an amazing story to tell and have built on the accomplishment of the women who went before them.
The 2024 past calendar honorees included Queen Aliquippa, Mary Cardwell Dawson, Helen Richey, Rebecca Webb Pennock Lukens, Margaret Kerr Bell Miller, and Frances Dorrance. The 19th Amendment and the 144-year struggle to obtain voting rights and the timeline are a regular August feature in our calendar.
The celebration is over and now it is time to dedicate our time and energy to distributing our 2024 Women’s voices…Hear them Speak Calendar©. Our calendar is one of the few calendars that focuses on PA Women, past and present, who have made a difference in our state and often in the U.S. The contributions of women are rarely acknowledged. This leaves a leave a void in history books.
We have published five calendars (2019-2024) and have conducted many events that highlighted over 100 stories of women whose contributions should be remembered and honored.
The PAWHOA is dedicated to preserving women’s history, sharing and elevating the achievements of women in Pennsylvania through events and education. To continue our mission of highlighting and sharing her-stories please purchase calendars and share them with your family, friends, community and business associates, educators, libraries, and organizations that empower women.
You can purchase the calendar by clicking on the link below. In addition, individuals and corporations can also donate to our organization. Your contributions help us develop educational materials about women’s place in Pennsylvania's history.
Yours for preserving and telling women’s stories.
JoAnn Renk-Forrester, President
PAWHOA
412-670-4322
2023 MARCH
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women’s History Month. It is the month that we acknowledge the untold stories of our lives. Our individual stories weave a tapestry that contains threads of happiness and sorrow, despair and joy, foolishness and wisdom, prejudice and grace, triumphs and defeats, love and hatred, compassion and brutality daily tasks and monumental achievements, woven into an unending tapestry of stories that began at the dawn of time.
Women’s lives have laid the foundation of humankind. Yet, for the most part, their contributions, have been forgotten, buried, stolen, ridiculed, or dismissed. Their voices are whispers compared to the booming drums of “standard” history.
The silence of generations of women's voices is now starting to emerge and be heard through the celebration of Women’s History Month. The celebration has its roots one hundred twelve years ago when International Women’s Day (IWD) was established in 1911. At that time more than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, hold public office, and end discrimination. Today each month of Women’s History Month is decreed by Presidential Proclamation. Many of the issues that were the fuel for the original day have been partially solved and yet many issues remain. The work of weaving women into the tapestry of history continues.
The PAWHOA is dedicated to preserving women’s history,
sharing and elevating the achievements of women in Pennsylvania through events and education. This month I ask you to MAKE the time to learn more about women’s stories, share them, and recognize and thank the women in your life for the work they do to make the world a better place.
Yours for preserving and telling women’s stories.
January 2023 Beginning of the New Year
Dear Friends, Supporters, Sponsors, and Board Members of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement.
It is the beginning of a New Year with all the promises and hopes of a new beginning. As we start our 11th year planning our way forward it is also a time to review our past activities. We have accomplished the following since 2012:
1. Celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement with a well-attended joy-filled celebration at the LeMont Restaurant on Saturday, August 27, 2022. At the event, PAWHOA recognized 10 Women with the Spirit of the 19th Amendment Award
2. Published the fourth edition of the Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak © Calendar.
3. Survived the quarantine of events during the Covid epidemic.
4. Learned recent technology and hosted Zoom events online.
5. Recognized in ten years over four hundred women through events that highlight women through our various activities.
6. Introduced the www.pawomenshall.org website which informs and promotes women’s contributions to PA history.
7. Hosted a FB page Pennsylvania Women's Hall of Achievement | Facebook which focuses on the achievements of women past and present who have made a difference in our region, state and often the nation.
8. Donated calendars to groups, libraries, non-profits, and individuals to educate and promote women’s contributions to history.
9. Presented to numerous organizations, groups, and libraries about the achievements of women who have made history.
10. Produced the PAWHOA podcast highlighting women’s achievement.
With the start of our 11th year, the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement’s mission remains the same-- to share the forgotten stories of women in Pennsylvania and demonstrate their pivotal roles in history.
We will be looking for new ways to expand our outreach, including developing a curriculum that can be taught in schools and inspiring young girls to succeed and contribute to our state without overwhelming barriers.
This month's calendar star Judy Bannon, Executive Director of Cribs for Kids © is an excellent example of what women can do when they perceive a great need and develop a system that changes lives. Ms. Bannon has created an organization that has had local, regional, state, national and international impact on saving the lives of infants. Her-story and her organization's efforts are worth a page in history.
Consider a contribution to the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement that will enable us to gift a calendar to a library, a non-profit, or a school. If you should also choose to purchase a calendar(s), the cost is $20, including handling and delivery. A discount is available for multiple purchases.
We invite you to learn about the women who made today possible
Best wishes for a healthy, peaceful, and successful 2023.
JoAnn Renk-Forrester, President
PAWHOA
412-670-4322
AUGUST 2022
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement:
For ten years our mission has been to educate, inspire and share the stories of women in Pennsylvania. We have dedicated ourselves to uncovering and sharing the untold stories of the phenomenal women in our state. We have done this by conducting events, social media campaigns, and special projects. One project is publishing the Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak Calendar © highlights women’s achievements in our state.
Pennsylvania played a unique role in the struggle for voting and women’s rights. One of the first attempts was when Abigail Smith Adams wrote to her husband on March 31, 1776, to “Remember the Ladies”. John Adams was a delegate at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, struggling with the idea of breaking away from England. His return letter laughed at her and said No!
The dream of determining one’s destiny entered the nation's fabric. Those who carried the torch of freedom and committed their lives to the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. In the 19th century two women from Pennsylvania, Lucretia Mott in Philadelphia and Jane Grey Swisshelm in Pittsburgh are examples of those who dedicated their lives to women’s rights and the abolishment of slavery. They were threatened by vicious verbal attacks and faced physical violence to themselves, their homes, and business property. Despite these threats, they preserved and won supporters for their cause.
The women, who have been chosen for the 2023 Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak Calendar© has shown the determination and commitment of those who made the passage of the 19th Amendment possible. Their achievements in athletics, the arts, business, medicine, non-profits, and political leadership are outstanding. Their stories tell us what is possible when we focus on the rights of all…not a select few.
Please join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at the LeMont Restaurant as we celebrate our 10 Anniversary, and introduce the 2023 Women’s Voices… Hear Them Speak Calendar© and honored ten Spirit of the 19th Amendment Honorees.
Today as we enter another round of challenges to our rights, we are reminded that some would turn back the clock and reverse our freedoms. By reading, using, and sharing it with friends, families, schools, libraries, and organizations their stories will not be forgotten and will provide inspiration to overcome the challenges of today.
We appreciate your support and look forward to sharing "her-stories" in the years to come. To support our mission please buy our calendar, attend our events, and donate. There are multiple partnership opportunities available. Please feel free to call or email with any additional questions.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, August 27, 2022, for the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Pennsylvania Hall of Achievement Luncheon. To reserve your tickets please click on the link below or call me at 412.440.6969 or Cell 412-670.4322
Yours for Women’s Stories,
JoAnn Renk-Forrester, President
PAWHOA
412-670-4322
May 2022
As summer is rushing in and you are making your vacation plans, we ask you to reserve the date, Saturday, August 27, 2022, to Celebrate with us on the 10th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement and to join us as we:
1. Celebrate the 102nd Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment at a luncheon at the LeMont Restaurant on Saturday, August 27, 2022, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. This is the 10th year we have been conducting an event to honor this occasion.
2. Introducing the 2023 Women’s Voices…Hear Them Speak Calendar© featuring twelve women past and present who have made a contribution to our region, state, nation, and often the world.
3. Present the 2022 Spirit of the 19th Amendment Award to women whose actions have opened the door for ALL women to obtain and retain their personal, economic, and civil rights.
The struggle to obtain our rights was launched in 1776 when Abigail Smith Adams wrote her husband and other members of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, PA struggling to form a new nation to “Remember the Ladies”. Which, of course, they did not. In fact, as they were declaring our freedom from the “mother country” the rights of women in all thirteen colonies were being taken away as they adopted laws that prevented women from being economically and legally independent.
It took 144 years for the passage of the 19th Amendment to grant women the right to vote. The struggle for our rights did not end with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. It is a series of defeats and victories that have been ongoing for another 100 years to obtain and retain our rights.
This year as we celebrate and honor the women past, and present let us remember and honor the women in our state who have been part of the struggle.
Join us for lunch on Saturday, August 27, 2022, as we salute the women in our region who continue with courage, perseverance, and tenacity to make a difference.
We welcome your support. There are multiple partnership opportunities available. Please feel free to call or email for any additional questions.
Thank you for believing in women!
JoAnn R. Forrester, President
412-670-4322
March 2022
March is women’s history month. This is the month that we honor the women whose shoulders we stand on, who from the beginning of America fought for their rights and not to be treated as property. The struggle for women’s rights in America began while our founding fathers were clamoring for independence from the mother company…England.
Seventy-two years after the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1776 in Philadelphia, PA another revolutionary document was written. This document the Declaration of Sentiments, was written in 1848 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton of Seneca Falls New York, and Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia, PA. The document demanded the freedoms that our forefathers claimed for themselves. Thus began a 72-year struggle for women to gain rights. The women who dedicated themselves to the were heroic. They were often threatened, harassed, and punished by authorities. They were denounced by friends, families, and their community for daring to speak and demand justice. Yet they had the courage to continue, and they persisted for three generations until they obtain the right to vote.
Pennsylvania played an important part in this historic battle, and we are proud of the women of our state that dared to stand up and demand their rights. Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement (PAWHOA) was established in 2012. Our mission is to highlight women, (past and present), who made a difference in our lives today and bring to light the significant events and occurrences that have been part of our struggle to obtain our rights. PAWHOA has conducted over twenty-five events, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and Zoom seminars to recognize women and her-story. We have recognized over 300 women at our events. In 2019 we introduced Women’s Voices...Hear Them Speak(c) a calendar highlighting women past and present who have made a significant impact on our region, state, nation and sometimes the world. Some of the featured women include:
Hannah Callowhill Penn Audrey J. Murrell, Ph.D
Georgia Berner Lucretia Coffin Mott
Daisy Lampkin Kathy Dahlkemper
Shaughnessy Norton Police Chief Maurita Bryant
Hannah Callowhill Penn Lucretia Coffin Mott
Nellie Bly
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Rachel Carson
Ida Tarbell
Commander Gwen Elliott Dorothy Height
Karen Wolk Feinstein Jane Grey Swisshelm
Elsie Hillman Mayor Sophie Masloff
The women featured have dared to raise their voices and dedicated their lives to improving women’s status. To learn more about the trailblazing and courageous women go to our website; https://www.pawomenshall.org.
We need your support to highlight the best of women. Please attend our events, purchase our calendar, visit our website, and learn about the extraordinary women of Pennsylvania.
Best Historical Regards
JoAnn R. Forrester, President PAWHOA
Office; 412.440.6969 Cell: 412-670-4322
https://www.facebook.com/groups/259190778317591
https://www.facebook.com/PAWomensHallofAchievement
February 2022
Almost 200 years ago, 72 years after the issuing of the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed our freedom from England, and ironically denied the freedom of women and African Americans, the Declaration of Sentiments was issued in Seneca Falls, New York. Thus began the LONG march for women to gain their civil and voting rights. It is important to remember that our basic rights were not easily won. The women and men who work for the causes of Civil and Voting Rights and for the abolishment of slavery were often threatened and punished by authorities, their friends, families, and the community for having the courage to speak out. Pennsylvania played an important part in this historic battle, and we are proud of the women that dared to speak up and stand up for what is right.
One of the goals of the Pennsylvania Women’s Hall of Achievement is to highlight women, (past and present), who have made a difference in our lives today. The calendar Women's Voices...Hear Them Speak(c) that we annually produce Is one of our efforts to highlight those who have contributed to the welfare of our region, state, nation and many times the world. To learn more about the great women of our region and support our cause purchase the 2021-22 Women's Voices...Hear Them Speak Calendar(c).
This extraordinary 18-month calendar features women who have dared to make a difference in their words and actions. Featured Calendar Stars include Karen Wolk Feinstein, Pittsburgh, Dr. Sadie Alexander, Philadelphia, Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie PA, Shaughnessy Norton, Bucks County PA, Maxine Sullivan, Rankin PA, and Jessica Lee. These are just a few of the women featured in our calendar who have raised their voices and improved our lives.
To purchase the calendar please call JoAnn R. Forrester President, PAWHOA at 412.440.6969 or email at empressofbiz@gmail.com
Best Historical Regards
JoAnn R. Forrester, President PAWHOA
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