Celebrating Women's History Month!

Women’s History Month was first celebrated in 1978 with a local, weeklong celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The organizers picked the week to correspond with International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8.

The movement grew across the country as other groups and communities began holding their own celebrations in 1979, and in 1980, women's groups and historians began lobbying for national recognition, according to the National Women's History Museum.

In February 1980, then President Jimmy Carter issued a statement asking for Americans to recognize women's heritage in the U.S. during National Women’s History Week from March 2 to 8.

"I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality—Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul," Carter said.

He continued: "Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people."

In 1981, Congress passed a resolution designating the week beginning March 7, 1982, as Women's History Week. Then President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation in February 1982, emphasizing women's achievements throughout U.S. history.

"Recognizing that the many contributions of American women have at times been overlooked in the annals of American history, I encourage all citizens to observe this important week by participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities planned by individuals, governmental agencies, and private institutions and associations throughout the country," Reagan said.

Over the next five years, Congress continued to pass resolutions requesting for the president to issue proclamations of Women's History Week, according to the Library of Congress.

In 1987, Congress passed a joint resolution designating the month of March as Women's History Month, after the National Women's History Project petitioned, according to the Library of Congress.

Reagan then proclaimed March 1987 as Women's History Month, according to his presidential proclamation.