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Women in American History: Stories Worth Knowing
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items This list brings together books, documentaries, articles, and online resources that explore the lives and legacies of women in American history—some well-known, many long overlooked. I’ve been drawn to this subject for as long as I can remember—not a...
Sections
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Books: The stories we tell & the ones we’ve been missing
Film & Documentaries: History Illuminated
Websites & Digital Archives: Where history lives & grows
Museums, Monuments & Historic Places: History you can stand in
Books: The stories we tell & the ones we’ve been missing
These books have helped me see American history in a fuller way—through the eyes of women and others whose voices are often left out of the usual stories. Some focus mainly on women's experiences; others reach even further. I'm still learning and add...
I first picked this up for a Women’s Studies course in college, and it quickly became one of those books I couldn’t let go of. It’s an insightful and straightforward guide to women’s history in the U.S., perfect for anyone looking to understand the b...
A History of Women in America: From Founding Mothers to Feminists-How Women Shaped the Life and Culture of America, (Paperback)
This book completely changed the way I look at American history. Instead of the usual story told from the top down, Zinn shares it through the voices of those often left out—women, workers, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and the wor...
A People's History of the United States
Gail Collins brings centuries of American women's history to life with energy and clarity, highlighting the contradictions and complexity in how women have been seen—and how they’ve seen themselves. Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn fro...
America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls & Heroines
An empowering and intersectional history that centers the stories of African American women across 400+ years—challenging the standard narratives and restoring the voices of those too often left out. Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn fr...
A Black Women's History of the United States
An award-winning bestseller about the thousands of American women who secretly served as codebreakers during WWII. Their strict vow of silence nearly erased their efforts from history; this book helps reclaim their place in it. Please Note: As an...
Code Girls: Women Code Breakers of WWII
A compelling look inside the intelligence community through the eyes of the women who shaped it, from the early Cold War years through to today. Unseen, underestimated—and indispensable. Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifyin...
The Sisterhood: Women at the CIA
Film & Documentaries: History Illuminated
Film has a way of making history immediate and real. These documentaries and dramatizations shine a light on women whose lives and actions shaped the world around them. Each one brought something new into focus for me—and stayed with me long after I ...
I originally just recommended an article about the real Harriet Tubman (linked below), but the film itself deserves a spotlight too. Harriet brings Tubman's incredible courage and leadership to life on screen. While no movie can capture every detail ...
Harriet (2019)
This article, written at the time of the release of the film 'Harriet' in 2019 explores Tubman's real-life heroism and includes excellent reference material to learn more about her beyond Hollywood’s lens.
The True Story Behind the Harriet Tubman Movie (Smithsonian Magazine)
This inspiring documentary celebrates the life and legal legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a quiet revolutionary who reshaped the fight for gender equality in the U.S. Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
RBG - Documentary Celebrates Life of Groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018)
The incredible true story of three Black women mathematicians at NASA whose work helped launch astronauts into space. Set against the backdrop of segregation and sexism, their triumph is both personal and historic. Please Note: As an Amazon Assoc...
Hidden Figures (2017)
This one is electric. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry dives into the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s—and it’s told by the women who lived it. It's funny, raw, inspiring, and a reminder that the fight for equality has always been mes...
She's Beautiful When She's Angry (2014) — 1960s-70s second-wave feminism.
If you want a vivid, emotional look at the battle for women’s suffrage in America, Iron Jawed Angels is it. It focuses on Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, two young radicals who weren’t afraid to rattle the system. The film doesn’t shy away from the real s...
Iron Jawed Angels (2004)
This curated list from the Academy spans historical biopics, documentaries, dramas, comedies, thrillers, and rom-coms—all centering women’s stories and perspectives. I've seen so many of these, even more than once, and I look forward to seeing the re...
50 Films to Watch During Women's History Month (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Websites & Digital Archives: Where history lives & grows
History isn't something we only find in old books or monuments. It's living, changing, and still being uncovered. These digital archives and websites offer ways to dive deeper into stories, voices, and achievements that deserve more space in how we u...
This is one of the best centralized hubs for exploring U.S. women’s history through national landmarks, historic figures, and thematic collections
Women's History (U.S. National Park Service)
The Smithsonian’s online collection on women’s history, featuring exhibitions, object spotlights, and stories that reflect women’s roles in shaping the nation. From suffragist sashes to protest pins and everyday artifacts, this Smithsonian page brin...
National Museum of American History: Women’s History
Dedicated to highlighting the legacies of American women across fields and generations. A valuable starting point for students, researchers, or anyone looking to dive deeper.
The Women's History website
From battlefield nurses to front-line commanders, this article traces the evolving role of women in the military, honoring the complexity, courage, and sacrifices of their service.
Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military | USO
A brief history of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, along with links to: Clara Barton National Historic Site, Clara Barton Birthplace Museum, and The Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum.
Clara Barton | American Red Cross
Museums, Monuments & Historic Places: History you can stand in
Some stories feel even more powerful when you can walk where they happened. These historic places and museums honor women's contributions across the years, and offer a chance to connect with the past in a way that’s vivid, moving, and real. Some I’ve...
Women comprise more than half of the population and make history virtually everywhere. Yet, only 13 U.S. national park sites specifically commemorate some aspect of women’s history. The number of national park sites devoted to women’s history has ris...
The 13 National Parks Devoted to Women’s History (NPCA: National Parks Conservation Association)
Once the headquarters of the National Woman’s Party, this historic home in Washington, D.C. is now a monument to the fight for women’s equality. The online resources are rich with photos, archival materials, and insight into the women who strategized...
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
“The National Woman’s Party, Congress, and the Fight to Preserve the Belmont House” by Dr. Caitlyn Jones It was actually while reading this article that I first learned about the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument. This scholarly but...
Article: “A Citadel of Women’s Independence” (National Park Service)
This national historical park honors the estimated 18 million women who joined defense and support industries during World War II. On April 10, 2024, those millions of women were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that can be pre...
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The National First Ladies Library & Museum partners with the First Ladies National Historic Site (created in 2000) in Canton, Ohio, to preserve, promote, and educate about the significant role and contributions of our nation’s First Ladies, inspi...
The National First Ladies Library and Museum
Not to sound trite, but this museum truly holds a special place in my heart. The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the first museum in the world devoted entirely to celebrating women artists—and it's amazing. Their collection spans centu...
National Museum of Women in the Arts | Home