4 10 378 https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/bab072ccd39c14da2f7d7898d7873f74.JPG 5542723974a050887b607a943aaaab41 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1926 Birthplace Arlington County Death Date 2000 Occupation Educator and Entrepreneur Biographical Text Growing up in Lynchburg, Evelyn Reid (June 3, 1926–March 14, 2000) absorbed her mother's message of service to others. She graduated from Virginia Union University in 1948 and began teaching. In 1951, she moved to Arlington County, where she continued to teach while earning a master's degree in early childhood education from New York University. In 1956, she married Archie D. Syphax, a firefighter whose family had a long history of public service in Arlington. When Evelyn Syphax could not find a preschool in segregated Arlington that would accept her son, she established the Syphax Child Care Center in 1963. She offered a high quality education while emphasizing respect for each child and his or her culture and ethnicity. She also taught and served as a reading specialist in the county's public schools until retiring in 1972. In 1980, Syphax began a four-year term on the Arlington School Board, where she advocated a program to improve the reading, writing, and math skills of underachieving elementary students. A champion for children and women, Syphax organized a local Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter to provide scholarships and mentoring programs. She also established a local chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women to improve the social and political status of Black women. Syphax also believed in documenting African-American history, helping to lead the fight for a state historic marker at the site of the Freedmen's Village and creating the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington. In 2010, Virginia Union University named its School of Education for Evelyn Reid Syphax. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/strong-mw-2021">2021</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of Virginia Union University Archives and Special Collections. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Evelyn Reid Syphax Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource Evelyn Reid Syphax served the needs of her community as an educator, businesswoman, and local historian. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Community Leadership and Philanthropy Education https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/8191a702cf973ad3ad070c32a65c7aaa.jpg 19a50275f84efcbb9214cbc3d9d4bce2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1944 Birthplace Portsmouth Occupation Legislator Biographical Text Portsmouth native L. Louise Lucas was one of the first women to graduate from the apprentice program at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where she became its first female shipfitter in 1971. Later she worked as the command’s Federal Women's Program manager and as an Equal Employment Opportunity officer. She studied vocational-industrial education and urban affairs at Norfolk State University, earning a BS in 1971 and an MA in 1982. Lucas joined its faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor coordinating research efforts and securing federal aid to develop retraining programs as a result of military and defense industry downsizing in the region. A respected entrepreneur, Lucas is the president and CEO of Lucas Lodge and other related businesses providing residential and health care services for intellectually disabled adults. Concern about substandard housing led her to get involved with the Portsmouth Emergency Housing Coalition. Continuing her anti-poverty efforts, Lucas served as director of the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project from 1985 to 1992. Believing that "power concedes nothing without demand," she embarked on a political career in 1984 when she became the first Black woman to win election to the Portsmouth City Council. In 1991 Lucas was elected to represent southeastern Virginia's 18th District in the Senate of Virginia, and in December 2019 she became the first woman and the first African American elected its president pro tempore. Throughout her career, Lucas has advocated legislation related to voting rights restoration, reducing firearms purchases and expanding background checks, redistricting, regulation of casino gaming, and expansion of health care for Virginians. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/strong-mw-2021">2021</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia history honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of L. Louise Lucas. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource L. Louise Lucas Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource As a community activist, entrepreneur, and state senator, L. Louise Lucas has been a tireless advocate for residents of southeastern Virginia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Business and Entrepreneurship Community Leadership and Philanthropy Government and Law https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/e51a95a5ba5d0d704eb0c883409ada76.JPG 0a608607b70e19c18c7dd3fc04d66d61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1952 Birthplace Richmond Occupation Physician and Community Health Advocate Biographical Text After studying biology at North Carolina’s Winston-Salem State University, Lerla G. Joseph earned her medical degree in only three years from Wake Forest University, also in Winston-Salem, in 1977. She served her residency in internal medicine at Howard University Hospital, in Washington, D.C., and then worked as an internist for the U.S. Public Health Service at a community clinic in Detroit. Joseph joined a medical practice in Richmond in 1983, and four years later opened her own private practice in Charles City County. Recognizing the lack of comprehensive medical care in some Richmond communities, Joseph expanded her practice into the city during the 1990s. She offers a diagnostic center, disease prevention training, and other services to provide "a center of healing" for her patients. In 2012 she founded the Central Virginia Coalition of Healthcare Providers, one of the nation's few minority-owned accountable care organizations that bring together general practitioners, specialists, and other medical professionals in the region to provide accessible, high quality, and affordable care for Medicare recipients. Joseph's passion for helping people in need has also led her to organize annual short-term missions to Haiti, where she has provided medical treatment and supplies since 2005 and for which she received the International Trends and Services Award from the Eastern Area Links, Inc., in 2017. Dedicated to supporting her community, Joseph has served on boards of the Richmond Community Hospital and Bon Secours Health System. In 1994 she was the first woman elected president of the Richmond Medical Society and later served as the first female president of the Old Dominion Medical Society, where she helped raise more than $60,000 in scholarships for Black medical students. She is an ardent supporter of health care for all.    Nominated by Tony R. King, Prince George County. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/strong-mw-2021">2021</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of Lerla G. Joseph. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lerla G. Joseph Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource A dedicated physician, businesswoman, and community health advocate, Dr. Lerla G. Joseph provides high-quality, value-based health care to underserved populations in central Virginia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Community Leadership and Philanthropy Science and Medicine https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/57326f63d105436c1c3fa4056d3ed238.jpg 9390dfdf8681b2fc82f8c6f92fed0eb1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1953 Birthplace Harrisonburg Death Date 2021 Occupation Social Justice Activist Biographical Text Growing up in Illinois, Stan Maclin (December 27, 1953–January 11, 2021) was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of nonviolence to effect social change. He became a Mennonite minister and during the 1980s was pastor of Joy Mennonite Fellowship in Peoria, where he was also president of the Harrison Homes Mission in one of the city's public housing developments. An advocate for a stronger African-American presence in church leadership, Maclin became president of the African American Mennonite Association in 1989. He became pastor of Jubilee Christian Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia, in 1991. Rev. Maclin moved to Harrisonburg about 2000 and studied urban ministry and community outreach at Eastern Mennonite University. He advocated diversity and inclusion and worked with the local chapter of Virginia Organizing to bring immigrant groups together and to combat anti-immigration legislation. He promoted criminal justice reform to eliminate lengthy mandatory sentencing and the criminalization of drug addiction, and taught a class at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Jail on empowerment and reentry after incarceration. In response to police shootings of unarmed Black men, Maclin co-founded Americans Resisting Minority and Ethnic Discrimination in 2016 to document and raise awareness of similar events. The peaceful rallies he organized at the courthouse during the summer of 2020 led to the establishment of the People's Equality Commission of the Shenandoah Valley, which provides a collective platform for citizens to combat institutional racism. Maclin was also the president of the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Harrisonburg, which he opened in 2010 to emphasize her legacy of leadership and service to others. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/strong-mw-2021">2021</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of Randi B. Hagi. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Stan Maclin Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource Through his work in the ministry and as a community activist, Rev. Stan Maclin embraced diversity and inclusion and empowered others to work for racial justice. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/e88b7572c5815189ca0a0218de44f808.jpg c20985ca5d41b7128f03475c42a857bd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1978 Birthplace Arlington County Occupation Political Activist and Mentor Biographical Text Krysta Jones grew up in a U.S. Navy family and was encouraged to understand the importance of African-American history. After graduating from the University of Florida, where she directed Students Taking Action Against Racism, she spent two years in Paraguay with the Peace Corps. She settled in Arlington County, worked as a lobbyist, and studied at the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership to hone her skills as an advocate for others. While earning a master's degree at The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, Jones was challenged to expand her thesis on Virginia's lack of African-American representatives in Congress, and in 2006 she established the Virginia Leadership Institute. Now known as Vote Lead Impact, her nonpartisan organization trains and mentors African Americans to run for elected office at all levels in Virginia and nationwide and also awards scholarships to those who want to pursue leadership development programs. Jones strives to bring diversity to government and engages women and young people in advocacy work to develop the next generation of leaders among traditionally underrepresented populations. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., she has invested countless hours in leading social action efforts and mentoring women in politics around the world. She published A Seat at the Table, an interactive guide to help people get involved in solving community problems. Active locally, Jones has served on the boards of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and the Arlington Community Foundation, and in 2014 she was named one of Leadership Arlington's inaugural 40 Under 40 honorees for her efforts to inspire and build connections among future community leaders. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/strong-mw-2021">2021</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia history honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of Krysta Jones. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Krysta N. Jones Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource Krysta Jones is passionate about encouraging and empowering others to make a difference in their communities, state, and nation. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy Government and Law https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/9c3f6f9527a4ca69d4782fd16ed26789.pdf 5bdfc555deb2c268ec866702c518c98d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History Fact Sheets for Download Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/534c67e7222ea9d5c534f351290cbee6.jpg aecd0cadd5cda7365c14758ff5e5f974 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1882 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1957 Occupation Community Activist and Suffragist Biographical Text After graduating from a segregated Fredericksburg school at age thirteen, Ora Brown Stokes (11 June 1882–19 December 1957) trained as a teacher at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (later Virginia State University). She married a Baptist pastor and settled in Richmond, where she quickly became involved in church and community work. In 1912 she founded the Richmond Neighborhood Association, a social service organization for young African American women, and in 1916 founded the National Protective League for Negro Girls. Stokes studied at the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy, and in 1918 became the first African America woman probation officer in Richmond. Stokes understood the importance of voting rights for women to effect social change and after the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in August 1920, she and Richmond banker Maggie L. Walker led a massive voter registration drive that enabled almost 2,500 African American women to register. Segregated in city hall's crowded basement, African American women were sometimes turned away after standing in line all day. Stokes helped organize a phone system to alert women when to come in to register. She was one of the few African American women who attended conventions of the National League of Women Voters during the 1920s, and was Virginia state chair of the National League of Republican Colored Women. In the 1920s Stokes lectured across the country on such topics as the welfare of children, racial uplift, political rights, and temperance. During the last decade of her life, she worked as the only African American field organizer for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Library of Virginia. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ora Brown Stokes Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Description An account of the resource Ora Brown Stokes was a lifelong advocate for the rights of African American women. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History Honoree https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/846734628f3d3b7165cddc4d575f015f.jpg 30bc32743f86a848615b6ed25fd3d718 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1890 Birthplace Clarke County Death Date 1979 Occupation Suffragist and Labor Economist Biographical Text Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (August 2, 1890–November 24, 1979) grew up in a Quaker Community in Clarke County and attended a Quaker school in nearby Loudoun County before graduating from Swarthmore College in 1913. While a student she began taking part in woman suffrage events and in 1917 she went to work as a field organizer for the National American Woman Suffrage Association in New York and South Dakota. Late in 1918 the association sent Pidgeon to Virginia to assist with the Equal Suffrage League's campaign to gather tens of thousands of signatures in support of a woman suffrage amendment to the U. S. Constitution. An energetic and capable canvasser, Pidgeon enrolled supporters in the northern counties where she had grown up, in eastern Virginia, and in southwestern part of the state until 1920. In anticipation of ratification, the Equal Suffrage League created citizenship schools in cooperation with the University of Virginia's Extension Bureau and named Pidgeon as state director. She directed the schools, which were held around the state to educate women about voting and public policy, until 1926. She was particularly interested in government efficiency and earned a master's degree in political science from the university in 1924. She joined the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor in 1928, directing its influential research division and the economic studies section. Pidgeon wrote or co-wrote about 30 reports on women in various workplace settings out of the almost 200 official reports issued by the Woman's Bureau before she retired in 1956. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Description An account of the resource Labor economist Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon began her career as an organizer for woman suffrage. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History Honoree https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/7df44dc80d486360cca25c149b2f32f1.jpg 54e09466a8fa376c567d128ca3bc7365 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1873 Birthplace Portsmouth Death Date 1927 Occupation Community Activist and Suffragist Biographical Text Josephine Mathews Norcom (January 16, 1873–April 27, 1927) grew up in Wytheville and graduated from the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (later Virginia State University), in 1889. She taught school in Salem, Lynchburg, and Pulaski County before she married and moved to Portsmouth. Norcom believed that women were called to improve their communities and she embraced many of the causes of the Progressive movement, including public education, public health, and the living and working conditions of African American women and men. A founder of the Virginia State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Norcom advocated for the establishment of an industrial school for African American girls that opened in Hanover County in 1915 and provided education and vocational training to girls who otherwise would have been sent to prison. Norcom was a member of the resolutions committee at the 1916 National Association of Colored Women convention when it endorsed the proposed amendment to the United States Constitution to guarantee women's right to vote. Norcom publicly advocated woman suffrage in the face of anti-suffrage arguments that voting rights for women would jeopardize white political control of Virginia if African American women could vote. After the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920, she joined a local Woman's Republican League and likely helped women register to vote in Newport News, where she then lived. Norcom later worked as executive secretary for segregated branches of the Young Women's Christian Association in Cincinnati and Detroit and after her death in 1927 the Detroit YWCA opened Camp Norcom for African American girls. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Josephine Mathews Norcom Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Description An account of the resource Josephine Norcom advocated educational opportunities and equal rights for African American women and men. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History Honoree https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/b25fd946a5e6cf7fd4453d30c70f9f5c.jpg 5bcc0a34734c53e112da8b828bf99ba7 https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/837dc8d32549f2726b85ce899bb2a6c6.mp3 f294410cf59ca342e2594806101f81bd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1851 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1928 Occupation Suffragist Biographical Text Growing up in Massachusetts, Sophie Gooding Rose Meredith (December 12, 1851–August 27, 1928) was educated in the Quaker values of racial and gender equality and peace. She married a lawyer from Richmond and settled there. As her children grew up she began advocating improvements to the city's public schools and joined the Richmond Education Association. In 1909 Meredith was one of about twenty socially prominent women who founded the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Believing that in a democracy "all the people, not one-half the people, may make the laws that we must all live under," she argued that women could help elect legislators to pass laws that would make the world a better place. Meredith served as one of the league's vice presidents until 1915, when she organized the Virginia branch of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (later the National Woman's Party), which had been established to advocate a woman suffrage amendment to the United States Constitution. After Virginia's General Assembly had defeated proposals to amend the state constitution three times, Meredith believed that a federal amendment would be the quickest way to achieve voting rights for women. Despite being in her sixties, Meredith joined the National Woman's Party pickets at the White House, who stood with banners criticizing the president for not supporting woman suffrage, and was arrested in 1918 for demonstrating at Lafayette Park. After the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920, Meredith continued to chair the Virginia branch of the National Woman's Party and advocated an equal rights amendment until her death. <a href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Library of Congress. Audio clip: excerpt from Sophie Meredith's June 28, 1916, speech to the Virginia branch, Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, read by Library of Virginia staff. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sophie G. Meredith Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Description An account of the resource Sophie G. Meredith was an advocate for equal suffrage and women's rights. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Virginia Women in History Honoree