Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 6.djvu/662

 106 STAT. 5220 PROCLAMATION 6400-^AN. 16, 1992 Proclamation 6400 of January 16, 1992 Women's History Month, 1992 By the President of the United states of America A Proclamation Women's History Month provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the myriad contributions and achievements of American women— from the millions of unsung heroines who have strengthened our Nation through their homes, families, and communities to the many celebrated women who have enjoyed more widespread recognition and fame. While this occasion helps to bring honor where it is due, we must nevertheless resist the notion that "women's history" is somehow separate from the rest of history. In fact, they are thoroughly entwined. When our ancestors fought for this Nation's independence, when they pushed westward across the frontier, women played integral, if not then widely acclaimed, roles in the success of the great American experiment. They shared in the labors that produced thriving farms and towns across this great land, and they helped to nurture in their children the faith and the love of freedom that have long characterized the American dream. Over the years, women have continued to share in the pioneer spirit, and this month we remember in a special way those who were early leaders in their respective fields. We gratefully recall women like Emma Hart Willard and Elizabeth Ann Seton, who helped to shape American education, as well as trailblazers like Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, who were two of the first women in the United States to earn medical degrees. We also recount the achievements of women like Maria Mitchell, an astronomer, educator, and the first woman to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Louise Bethune, who in 1886 became the first woman elected to the American Institute of Architects. These noted women were just a few of the many who have helped to open doors of opportunity for others. More than the collected stories of pioneers and their progeny, history also traces the development of principles and ideals—and the epic struggle for human freedom and progress. Thus, this month we also remember those women who have helped to uphold this Nation's promise of liberty and justice for all. Well over a century ago, women like Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Sojourner Truth helped to wage the triumphant struggle against slavery. These heroines have been followed by other courageous women, such as Ida Wells-Barnett and Rosa Parks, who made further contributions to the fight for equality by calling public attention to the evils of bigotry and segregation. Many women who opposed slavery and segregation in the United States were also early supporters of the women's suffrage movement, and vice versa. For example, we recall Lucretia Mott, a well-known abolitionist who also worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to secure for women the right to vote. These women and the countless others who joined their ranks shared a strong commitment to the ideals of equal opportunity and fairness, and their efforts helped to increase the participation of women not only in politics but also in virtually every field of endeavor.

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