Celebrate Women's History Month At This Rochester Museum

ROCHESTER -- March is Women's History Month and the Van Hoosen Museum in Rochester is hosting a series of related events honoring important female figures in history.

Here's a look at what is in store:

• Women's History Lecture Series
• Thursdays in March, 7:00 p.m.
• Members Free; Non-Members $5
• Pre-register via Pay Pal at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms, by emailing rhmuseum@rochesterhills.org or by calling 248-656-4663.

March 7

• Petticoat Patriots: How Michigan Women Won the Vote
• presented by Riley Hubbard of Michigan Women Forward #HERStory
• Discover the inspirational story of how Michigan women won the vote! This program traces the history of the women’s rights movement from its beginnings among the abolitionists and Quakers through its final passage of the 19th Amendment.

March 14

• At Home and Over There: American Women Physicians in World War I
• presented by the American Women’s Medical Association
• The Museum is proud to share the American Medical Women’s Association Exhibition and documentary that celebrate the contributions of women who, despite the capabilities equal to their male colleagues, were not permitted the same military rank and privilege. Unable to surmount these barriers, they still made lasting contributions to the war efforts. AMWA has produced this video to highlight the contributions of these unsung heroes.

March 21

• Buildings of MSU and the Women they Honor presented by Megan
• Badgley-Malone
• Many buildings at Michigan State University bear the name of women, but seldom are the stories of these women heard. Megan Badgley-Malone will share these stories including that of Van Hoosen Hall.

March 28

• Women Who Changed America by Marie Papciak
• Marie Papciak transforms into two women who changed America and tells their stories in first person. Join us for this HERstory presentation to “meet” Bessie Coleman and Laura Smith Haviland. Bessie Coleman was the first woman pilot of African-American descent and the first of Native American descent. Her pioneering was an inspiration to early pilots and to those in the communities of her heritage.
• Laura Smith Haviland was an abolitionist, suffragette and temperance worker who lived in Lenawee County in the Michigan Territory. She was part of the community group that organized the first anti-slavery organization in Michigan in 1832. She also opened the first racially integrated school in Michigan. Her home was the first Underground Railroad station in Michigan.

Image via Van Hoosen Museum