Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society.
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Celebrated every March, Women’s History Month began in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978 as a “Women’s History Week.” The organizers chose the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day.
Since then the movement has gained traction, and each president since 1994 has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.
Here at Naperville Public Library, we’re highlighting female authors, local female philanthropists, the women of World War II and more this month. Each of these programs will celebrate women and their vital contributions of yesterday and today.
To see a full list of our events, please go to napervillepl.librarycalendar.com.
SCORE Women’s Business Roundtable
The SCORE NaperLaunch Women’s Business Roundtable is designed to meet the unique challenges and needs of women entrepreneurs in the growth stage of their businesses. Members gain access to mentorship, networking, training and other valuable business resources.
Open to any growth-stage woman entrepreneur, if you’ve owned a business for at least two years, you want peers to discuss ideas and strategies and you’re available to attend biweekly virtual roundtable meetings each month, this program is for you.
Evening with Madeline Miller
Meet Madeline Miller, one of the leaders in Greek retellings as well as a New York Times bestselling author, Orange Prize for Fiction winner, who will discusses her works, “Song of Achilles” and “Circe,” with 95th Street Library adult services librarian, Christy Palangattil.
Miller’s first novel, “The Song of Achilles,” was awarded the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel, “Circe,” was an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller. Before she was a novelist, Miller earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Classics from Brown University, and she taught and tutored Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students for more than 15 years. A recording of this program will be available at until March 17 at bit.ly/Madeline-Miller.
Women of Cantigny
Cantigny Park is the 500-acre former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, member of the U.S. Army’s First Division in WWI and longtime editor and publisher of the baiduhai.
After his death, his will established the Robert R. McCormick Charitable Trust and designated Cantigny as a public space for education and recreation. Here you will find the Robert R. McCormick Museum, a historic house museum that explores the public and private sides of one of America’s wealthiest and most philanthropic families.
At 7 p.m. March 16, learn about the women of the Medill, McCormick and Paterson families, whom, due to a lack of male heirs, were propelled to do amazing things. From serving in Congress, breaking flight records, winning the Pulitzer Prize and owning their own newspapers, each woman has a fascinating story. Sponsored by the Naperville Women’s Club and presented by Laurie Russell via Zoom.
Brown Bag Lecture: Rosie the Riveter
Join us at 1 p.m. March 17 to hear the true story of Geraldine Hoff Doyle, the real woman behind the iconic poster, “We Can Do It.”
Lynn Rymarz will share not only Geraldine’s story but weave in stories of other real-life Rosies who stepped out of their traditional roles to support the war effort during WWII. Lynn will also share the story of Millie Werber, a Jewish teenager from a Polish ghetto who ended up working in a factory that supported the Nazi war effort. This program will be held virtually via Zoom.
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.
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