Who is a woman from history who you think is inspiring? I asked this question to fifteen WCPSS employees and received a variety of responses—political figures, authors, activists, and more. However, out of all the women named, none of them were born in North Carolina. In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at some of the little-known women from our state and their amazing accomplishments.
Penelope Barker—First Female Political Activist in America
Penelope Barker was born in 1728 in Edenton. She is most famous for leading the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a protest of 50 women against the Tea Act. The women signed a declaration and organized a boycott of British goods. This was the first recorded women’s political demonstration in America. Unlike the participants of the Boston Tea Party, these women did not conceal their identities but published their petition and a list of the signers publicly.
Dolley Madison—Defining the Role of the First Lady
Although Dolley Madison grew up in Virginia, she was actually born in Guilford County, NC, in 1768. Following the election of her husband, James Madison, as the fourth US President in 1808, she took an active role in hosting social events, many of which were open to the public. Dolley also prevented the destruction of several important documents, and a famous portrait of George Washington when the White House was burned down during the War of 1812, furthering her popularity.
Harriet Ann Jacobs—Exposing the Reality of Slavery
Harriet Ann Jacobs was born into enslavement in 1813 in Edenton. After years of cruelty and harassment, she escaped to the North, where she delivered lectures against slavery. In 1861, Harriet published Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, an autobiography. She refused to shy away from topics that were socially unacceptable, including the repeated abuse she experienced at the hands of her enslaver. Her book was very influential and helped fuel the abolitionist movement.
Gertrude Weil—Committed to Equality and Fairness
Gertrude Weil was born in Goldsboro in 1879. Due to rising antisemitism, many southern Jews were uncomfortable with taking a public position on controversial issues, but Getrude did not hesitate to stand up for her beliefs. She was very involved in the battle for women’s suffrage, establishing the North Carolina League of Women Voters and giving speeches around the state. Gertrude also advocated for integration, improved working conditions, and civil rights.
Lilian Exum Clement Stafford—Leading the Way for Female Politicians
Lilian Exum Clement Stafford, called Exum, was born near Black Mountain in 1886. She was the first North Carolinian woman to open a law practice and the first woman in the state to practice law without the support of male colleagues. In 1920, Exum was elected to the NC House of Representatives by 10,368 votes to 41, making her the first woman to become a legislator in the southern US.
Beulah Louise Henry—Transforming Daily Life with Practical Inventions
Beulah Louise Henry was born in 1887 in Raleigh. When she was 25, she received her first patent for the vacuum-sealed ice cream freezer. She earned 48 more patents over the course of her life, creating improvements to sewing machines, typewriters, umbrellas, and much more. In honor of her achievements, Beulah was often called “Lady Edison” and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006. Hooray for women in STEM!
Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson—Pioneer of the Medical Field
Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson was born in 1914 in Apex. Despite society’s disapproval, she became a doctor, specializing in obstetrics. Dr. Annie delivered more than 8,000 babies during her career. She was also the first chief of staff at WakeMed (located only minutes away from Enloe), the first integrated hospital in North Carolina. Dr. Annie willed her farm to the City of Raleigh to be turned into a nature preserve, which is open to the public to this day.
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch—Working for Justice at the National Scale
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch was born in Greensboro in 1959. She graduated from Harvard and worked as a lawyer for many years. She became a US attorney in 1999 and served as US Attorney General (the head of the Department of Justice) from 2015-2017, becoming the first Black woman to hold this position. In this role, Loretta advocated for police reform and the rights of minority groups.
The next time you hear about a female activist, engineer, or doctor, remember the North Carolinians who pioneered into male-dominated fields and paved a way for all women to come. Happy Women’s History Month!
