Important Dates in Women's History -
October

Rebecca Felton, age 87, was appointed by the Governor of Georgia as the first woman to occupy a seat in the U.S. Senate. She only remained in office 1 day.

October 5, 1924

The first little Orphan Annie comic strip was printed.

October 7, 1985

October 7, 1985Lynette Woodward, captain of the US Olympic Basketball team who had won a Gold in 1984, became the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

October 12, 1949

The first woman U.S. Ambassador, Eugenie Moore Anderson was appointed by President Harry Truman. She served first as ambassador to Denmark and then Bulgaria.

October 12, 1955

Florence Chadwick set a world record for the southward crossing of the English Channel: 13 hours and 55 minutes.

October 12, 1969

Sonja Henie, Olympic gold medal winner and figure skater, died in an airplane accident.

October 13, 1967

President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order #11246 prohibiting sex discrimination in employment by the federal government and by federal contractors

October 13, 1984

Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space.

October 16, 1916

Margaret Sanger opened the first United States free clinic

October 18, 1929

Women were declared "persons" under Canadian law

October 19, 1943

For the first time, a woman, Hattie Caraway, presided over the U.S. Senate

October 23-24, 1850

The first National Woman's Rights Convention was held in Massachusetts. 1,000 people attended and brought national attention to women's rights.

October 23, 1910

Blanche S. Scott became the first woman to make a solo airplane flight.

October 23, 1915

25,000 women marched in New York City demanding the vote

October 25, 1939

The first pair of nylon stockings was sold in the United States

October 29, 1966

The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded

October 31, 1984

Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards.