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March is Women's History Month! Mercer County draws strength and inspiration from women who came before us, and the remarkable women working among us today. They are part of our story, and a truly balanced and inclusive history recognizes how important women have always been in American society.
Clarissa Harlowe Barton, (Dec. 25, 1821-April 12, 1912), known as Clara, is one of the most honored women in American history. Barton risked her life to bring supplies and support to soldiers in the field during the Civil War. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881, at age 59, and led it for the next 23 years. Her understanding of the ways she could provide help to people in distress guided her throughout her life. By the force of her personal example, she opened paths to the new field of volunteer service. Her intense devotion to serving others resulted in enough achievements to fill several ordinary lifetimes. Barton’s ties to Mercer County were as a teacher right after college. Barton taught in Hightstown, and it was there that she learned there were no schools in nearby Bordentown. In 1852 she was contracted to open a free school in Bordentown, the first free school in New Jersey.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Nina’s Whisper: Intimate Partner Violence
Thursday, March 5, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Yvonne Theater, Fine Arts, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road (Route 206), Lawrence. Rider professor, Dr. Sheena C. Howard, presents her debut novel followed by Q&A. The book is about a woman who struggles to triumph over domestic abuse at the hands of another woman. Free.
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The Greatest Ever: Babe Didrikson Zaharias’ Story
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m., Mercer County Library, Robbinsville Branch, 42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville. (609) 259-2150 mcl.org Watch Linda Kenyon, actor and professional narrator, embody the voice and gestures of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. This play illuminates how Babe revolutionized women competing in sports. Registration is required.
Talk on establishing the local African American Museum by the authors of "If These Stones Could Talk."
Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m. Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck - Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society, 1867 Sanctuary Arts and Culture Center, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. (609) 392-6409 | 1867sanctuary.org
Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage
Monday, March 9, 7 p.m., Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch, 61 Scotch Road, Ewing. (609) 882-3148 mcl.org. Carol Levin will portray Lillian Feickert, who was president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association from 1912-1920 and will explore the overlooked role of New Jersey in the long, frustrating fight for women’s suffrage. Hear stories of suffrage advocates Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and how Dr. Florence Spearing Randolph brought black women into the movement. Participants will learn that women were not “given” the vote but fought for it for generations. This program is funded by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Registration required. Call (609) 882-3148
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