Mary Ruthsdotter
Encyclopedia
Mary Ruthsdotter was a feminist activist who co-founded the National Women's History Project
, for which she produced curriculum guides, teacher training programs and videos on women’s history. She played an influential role in obtaining Congressional resolutions and Presidential proclamations designating Women's History Week and, later, Women's History Month
.
, Ruthsdotter lived many places in her youth as her father, a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, was assigned to bases in Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Taiwan. Settling in Los Angeles
, she married Dave Crawford in 1964, taking his last name. She attended UCLA in the 1970s, earning a BA in urban geography. She became a feminist, and changed her legal name to Ruthsdotter, in honor of her mother, Ruth Moyer, in 1978.
, in 1977. In 1980 she joined with Molly MacGregor, Bette Morgan, Paula Hammett, and Maria Cuevas to found the National Women’s History Project (NWHP). Working as projects director for 20 years, Ruthsdotter raised money for materials for students, teachers and librarians. She wrote press releases promoting women’s history through radio, television, magazines and newspapers. She gathered an extensive collection of the leading books and materials pertaining to women’s history and biography, making the NWHP the leading national resource on women’s history. She traveled extensively, making presentations, training teachers, and lobbying for the cause of women’s history.
The observance of Women’s History Week began in Sonoma County in 1978, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. The idea caught on across the country. By 1981 National Women’s History Week had been designated by the U.S. Senate and 24 governors and state legislatures, and President Jimmy Carter
had issued a proclamation. The U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution declaring Women’s History Week in March 1982. In 1987, Women’s History Week was expanded to a month, with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan
.
Ruthsdotter also served as the chair of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and worked three years as an aide to state assemblywoman (later state senator) Pat Wiggins
. She was a supporter of progressive causes and politicians, including Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
. She backed the creation of a National Women's History Museum on the National Mall
in Washington, DC.
After living in Windsor
and Santa Rosa
, she and her husband were among the founders of the Two Acre Wood cohousing
community in Sebastopol, California
, where they lived since 2000. Following her retirement in 2004, Ruthsdotter developed multiple myeloma
. She died suddenly of congestive heart failure
in January 2010.
National Women's History Project
The National Women's History Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and preserving women's history. Based out of Santa Rosa, California since 1980, it was started by women's history activists Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette...
, for which she produced curriculum guides, teacher training programs and videos on women’s history. She played an influential role in obtaining Congressional resolutions and Presidential proclamations designating Women's History Week and, later, Women's History Month
Women's History Month
Women's History Month is an annual declared month worldwide that highlights contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. March has been set aside as this month in the United Kingdom and in the United States...
.
Early life and education
Born Mary Pegau in 1944 in Fairfield, IowaFairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, Ruthsdotter lived many places in her youth as her father, a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, was assigned to bases in Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Taiwan. Settling in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, she married Dave Crawford in 1964, taking his last name. She attended UCLA in the 1970s, earning a BA in urban geography. She became a feminist, and changed her legal name to Ruthsdotter, in honor of her mother, Ruth Moyer, in 1978.
Women’s history advocate
Ruthsdotter became an activist for women after moving from Los Angeles to Sonoma County, CaliforniaSonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
, in 1977. In 1980 she joined with Molly MacGregor, Bette Morgan, Paula Hammett, and Maria Cuevas to found the National Women’s History Project (NWHP). Working as projects director for 20 years, Ruthsdotter raised money for materials for students, teachers and librarians. She wrote press releases promoting women’s history through radio, television, magazines and newspapers. She gathered an extensive collection of the leading books and materials pertaining to women’s history and biography, making the NWHP the leading national resource on women’s history. She traveled extensively, making presentations, training teachers, and lobbying for the cause of women’s history.
The observance of Women’s History Week began in Sonoma County in 1978, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. The idea caught on across the country. By 1981 National Women’s History Week had been designated by the U.S. Senate and 24 governors and state legislatures, and President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
had issued a proclamation. The U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution declaring Women’s History Week in March 1982. In 1987, Women’s History Week was expanded to a month, with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Ruthsdotter also served as the chair of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and worked three years as an aide to state assemblywoman (later state senator) Pat Wiggins
Pat Wiggins
Patricia A. Wiggins is a former American politician and member of the Democratic party. Wiggins served in the California State Assembly, representing the 7th Assembly District from 1998 until 2004, and in the California State Senate from 2006 to 2010, representing the 2nd Senate District...
. She was a supporter of progressive causes and politicians, including Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
Lynn Woolsey
Lynn C. Woolsey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and its co-chair...
. She backed the creation of a National Women's History Museum on the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
in Washington, DC.
After living in Windsor
Windsor, California
Windsor is an incorporated town in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 26,801 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:Windsor is located on U.S. Route 101 in the Russian River valley, about southeast of Healdsburg, California....
and Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, she and her husband were among the founders of the Two Acre Wood cohousing
Cohousing
A cohousing community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities which may include cooking, dining, child care, gardening, and governance of the...
community in Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
, where they lived since 2000. Following her retirement in 2004, Ruthsdotter developed multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
. She died suddenly of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
in January 2010.
External links
- National Women’s History Projecthttp://www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php
- Site for tributes to Mary Ruthsdotterhttp://maryruthsdotter.blogspot.com/