Clara Barton (b. December 25, 1821; d. April 12, 1912) was a humanitarian, teacher, nurse—and both the founder and first president of the American Red Cross. She was fearless in her pursuits and passionate about helping others. She became a teacher when there were few women teachers and forwent a salary so that children could attend school at no cost. She took to the…more»
Sandra Bullock (b. July 26, 1964) is one of the world’s highest paid actresses with several decades in Hollywood under her belt. In the 1990s, her celebrity power grew after starring in films like Speed , The Net and While You Were Sleeping . Since then she has become internationally recognized, starred in critically acclaimed films (such as Crash and The Blind Side ),…more»
Helen Churchill Candee (b. October 5, 1858; d. August 23, 1949) was an American journalist and one of the country's first professional interior decorators. She is best known, however, as being a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Candee was researching a book on tapestry in Europe when she was called back to the U.S. on emergency because her son…more»
If you grew up in the 70s, you'll remember Lynda Carter (b. July 24, 1951), the statuesque and shapely brunette who played the lead role in the TV hit series Wonder Woman . In addition to acting, she is an accomplished singer, dancer and voiceover actor. Carter got her start performing in a high school band and then modeling. In 1973 she won Miss…more»
Julia Child (b. August 15, 1912; d. August 13, 2004) was an author, TV host and chef. She developed a passion for French cooking while in Europe with her husband Paul Child, and attended the famous cooking school Cordon Bleu. While in Europe, she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking , a cookbook aimed at an American audience, published in 1961. It sparked…more»
Hillary Clinton (b. October 26, 1947) served as a New York State Senator from 2001 to 2009 and was appointed the 67th United States Secretary of State in 2009. She is also a former First Lady (1993-2001) and chaired the Task Force on National Health Care Reform while her husband Bill Clinton served as President. She remains a fierce advocate for women’s rights and…more»
Anna Julia Cooper (b. August 10, 1858; d. February 27, 1964) was an African-American woman who dedicated her 106 years on earth to education. She was born into slavery in 1858 and became one of the most accomplished African-American scholars in early American history, and only the fourth black woman to earn a doctorate degree. She was a passionate public speaker and fearlessly voiced…more»
Elizabeth Dole (b. July 29, 1936) has been on the national political stage since the mid-seventies. Starting out as a commissioner for the Federal Trade Commissioner (FTC), she was known as a passionate supporter of consumer rights and equal opportunity for the underserved. Her greatest roles have included: secretary of transportation, where she was the first American woman to hold the position; secretary of…more»
Geraldine Ferraro (b. August 26, 1935; d. March 26, 2011) was a congressional representative for New York City and the first female Vice Presidential candidate, running alongside presidential hopeful Walter Mondale in 1984. She was also the first Italian-American on a national ticket for public office. Before becoming an icon for the women’s movement, Ferraro worked at a private law practice and then headed…more»
Katharine Graham (b. June 16, 1917; d. July 17, 2001) is as close to DC royalty as one can get. Graham was a writer early in her life. She grew up in the suburbs of DC, went to college and then began submitting articles to papers for publication. In 1933, Graham’s father bought The Washington Post at a bankruptcy auction and she began working…more»
Goldie Hawn (November 21, 1945) is an actress who rose to fame as a regular on the 1960s comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In , where she would often dance in a bikini, her body painted wildly. Hawn starred in many films, including Private Benjamin, Shampoo, Foul Play, Death Becomes Her and The First Wives Club . She won an Academy Award for Best…more»
Lena Horne (b. June 30, 1917; d. May 9, 2010) was an African-American singer and performer. She got her start early as a 16-year-old chorus dancer at the famed Cotton Club in Harlem. With a silky voice and a lot of determination, her career blossomed. She became an internationally successful recording artist and performer in the 1940s and 1950s, acted on stage in numerous…more»
Jackie Kennedy (b. July 28, 1929; d. May 19, 1994) was born in Southampton, New York. As a young woman, she had ambitions as a writer and poet. She attended Vassar College in New York and both George Washington and Georgetown Universities in DC. After graduating with a BA in French Literature, Jackie was hired as the Washington Times-Herald ’s Inquiring Camera Girl. The…more»
Mary Jo Kopechne (b. July 26, 1940; d. July 18, 1969) was from a small city in Pennsylvania. She moved to DC in the early 1960s. In 1964, she became Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s secretary. She was an important asset to the office and forged a strong relationship with Kennedy. She helped him pen his announcement of presidential candidacy in 1968. Bobby Kennedy’s death…more»
Monica Lewinsky (b. July 23, 1973) is easily the most famous White House intern ever. Lewinsky held a number of administrative government positions, but it was her sexual exploits that made her famous. In 1997, secretly recorded conversations revealed she had an affair with then President Bill Clinton. Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for trying to hide the scandal. He was…more»
Shirley MacLaine (b. April 24, 1934) is an American actor, dancer and household name. As a girl, and through her teenage years, she trained at the Washington School of Ballet. She then followed her performing ambitions to Broadway. She was part of the chorus for a number of hit shows before playing a role in “The Pajama Game,” which caught the eye of a…more»
Dolley Madison (b. May 20, 1768; d. July 12, 1849) was married to the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. She, however, made the history books on her own accord and set the standard by which every First Lady since then has been measured. James was still a Congressman from Virginia when they wed. She was only 26 years old. Her life…more»
If you have a question about etiquette, just ask Judith Martin (b. September 13, 1938), better known as "Miss Manners." Since 1978, Martin has been writing an etiquette column now carried in more than 200 newspapers. Manners acquired her taste for taste as a child, traveling around the world as a diplomat's daughter. After attending Wellesley College, she worked for The Washington Post for…more»
Sandra Day O'Connor (b. March 26, 1930) was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. O'Connor was a state senator and judge in Arizona until 1980, when President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the high bench. During her years on the Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with conservatives most of the time, but was a swing vote on many key issues,…more»
Maureen Orth (b. January 26, 1943) is a special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. Known for her revealing story-telling skills, she has interviewed celebrities and statesman alike, from President Obama to Madonna to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orth started her career at Newsweek , where she was one of the first women ever to write for the magazine. Orth was married to NBC Washington…more»
Mary Surratt (b. 1823; d. July 7, 1865) was one of several conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Her husband, landowner John Surratt, whom she married at age 17, built a tavern and post office in Prince George’s County in Maryland. The property became known as Surrattsville. The couple had three children, one of whom was a Confederate secret agent during the…more»
Elizabeth Taylor (b. February 27, 1932; d. March 23, 2011) was a child actress who became one of the most glamorous women in Hollywood history. She was the quintessential movie star and acted in films like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , Cleopatra and Butterfield 8 , for which she received one of her two Academy Awards for Best Actress. Taylor was as…more»
Stacie Turner is a top real estate agent in Washington, D.C. and one of the cast members of the short-lived 2010 reality series on the Bravo network, The Real Housewives of D.C. Turner is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Business School. She is also the founder of Extra-Ordinary Life, a charity that works with foster care children in the D.C. area. During…more»
Greta Van Susteren (b. June 11, 1954) is a television host and personality who rose to fame during the highly publicized O.J. Simpson murder trial in the 1990s. A lawyer, Van Susteren appeared regularly on CNN commenting about the trial. The gig led to hosting roles on the network's Burden of Proof and The Point. After fierce contract negotiations in 2002, Van Susteren switched…more»
Ali Wentworth (b. January 12, 1965) is a comic, writer and actress who has appeared in such films as Jerry Maguire , The Love Bug and It's Complicated . She's also had numerous television appearances, including stints on Seinfeld and The Oprah Winfrey Show and co-hosting the program Living It Up! With Ali & Jack with Jack Ford. Wentworth is married to ABC News…more»