Celebrating Women's History Month

Women’s History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women throughout history. To observe the service and sacrifice of our women veterans, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library shares events, content and resources to honor those women in service. 

Virtual Events
Katharine Clark book

The Double Life of Katharine Clark with Katharine Gregorio

Katharine Clark was the first female military accredited correspondent during World War II. Staying on as a foreign correspondent behind the Iron Curtain after the War, she risked her life to expose the truth about the realities of Communism to the world. On March 8th at 11am, The International Spy Museum and The Pritzker Military Museum & Library welcome author Katharine Gregorio to discuss this intense and too little-known Cold War story, The Double Life of Katharine Clark. 

Recording Coming Soon

Laura Jowdy

Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War Medal of Honor

During the American Civil War, between 5,000 and 10,000 civilian women offered their services as nurses and hospital administrators. On March 9th at 1pm, The PMML welcomes Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Laura S. Jowdy to discuss the story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a battlefield surgeon, American feminist, suffragist, prisoner of war, and accused spy. Dr. Walker remains the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.

Recording Coming Soon

Recommended Reading by Women Authors
Women Heroes of World War II:
26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue
The Hello Girls:
America's First Women Soldiers
Hidden Figures:
The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Women Warriors:
An Unexpected History
War:
How Conflict Shaped Us
Lita & Jean:
Memoirs of Two Generations of Military Women
To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam

To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam

By: Claudia Friddell

Illustrated by: Christopher Cyr

During the Civil War, Clara Barton—one of the first women to receive permission to serve on a battlefield—snuck her supply wagon to the head of a ten-mile wagon train to deliver provisions to the Antietam Battlefield. On the bloodiest day in American history, Clara and her team of helpers sprang into action as they nursed the wounded and dying, cooked meals for soldiers, and provided doctors with desperately needed medical supplies and lanterns so they could operate through the night.

Recommended Reading Age: 7-10 years

Heroism Begins with Her

Heroism Begins with Her: Inspiring Stories of Bold, Brave, and Gutsy Women in the U.S. Military

By: Winifred Conkling

Illustrated by: Julia Kuo

From the Revolutionary War to present day, women have proudly served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as nurses, pilots, engineers, soldiers, and more. They dressed as men, worked for little pay and no benefits, and endured prejudice to break down barriers and earn their place beside their fellow servicemen. The achievements and courageous acts of these women forever changed the way the military operates!

From well-known women to unsung heroes, this beautifully illustrated book tells incredible, captivating tales of gutsy women like Margaret Corbin, Harriet Tubman, Tammy Duckworth, and countless others.

Recommended Reading Age: 8-12 years

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Holt Oral Histories

  • Bette Horstman, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Medical Corps

    When you imagine any of the many jobs shouldered by enlisted women throughout World War II, pioneers of the then-young profession of physical therapy may not immediately come to mind. Bette Horstman was one such pioneer. 

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  • Mildred Dost, Nurse, US Army, and Marian Boyer, Nurse, US Navy

    From one twin sister surviving a serious car accident as a child to both sisters celebrating V-J Day at their different deployments, First Lieutenant Mildred Dost and Lieutenant Marian Boyer reflect upon their lives. Their joint interviews focuses on their service as nurses during World War II.

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  • Mary Arvidson, Master Chief, US Navy

    For some veterans, their service evolved from the short term into a lifelong career, and in some cases, they may even dedicate their service to more than one branch. For  Master Chief Mary Arvidson, this meant being a leader and an advocate for her fellow servicemen and women within both the US Army and Navy. 

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  • Eugenie Fisher Olsen, 1LT

    How could have the affable college student, Eugenie, imagine that a sociology course would change the course of her life?  Rather than accept a plum teaching position upon graduation, Eugenie enlisted in the pioneering occupational therapy program of the US Army's Women’s Medical Specialist Corps, largely intended to treat injured veterans of the Korean War.

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  • Betty Bonwell Paps, Colonel, US Air Force

    After Betty Bonwell Paps realized that she didn't want to pursue traditional hospital nursing, she seized the opportunity to become a member of the Air Force reserves, kickstarting an impressive twenty-year career of flight nursing, education, and military leadership.

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More Resources
Women in Military

PMML Blog

The PMML blog celebrates the contributions of women have made to military efforts from the Revolutionary War to today. Learn more about women in the armed forces by reading these blogs.

Women in the Military

Mrs. Cordelia Harvey

The 140th Anniversary of the American Red Cross

The Great Northwest Sanitary Fair of 1863

Mary Arvidson, Master Chief, US Navy