Senator Alesi Celebrates Women’s History Month WITH Historic Women of Distinction Exhibit

Senate Inducts Three Women into Historic Women of Distinction Exhibit

To Celebrate Women’s History Month, Senator Alesi today announced an exhibit honoring historic New York women whose achievements in arts, science, government, military, labor, education and social reform has earned them recognition as Women of Distinction.

This exhibit includes three honorees: African-American crusader and nurse Adah Belle Samuels Thomas of New York (1870-1943), War of 1812 heroine Betsy Doyle of the Niagara and Greenbush areas (circa 1750-1819), and documentary photographer and writer Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) of the Bronx and Ithaca areas.

The Women of Distinction exhibit features historic New York women, from suffragists to geneticists, labor organizers to entertainers, whose contributions are still felt today and who stand as an inspiration to the next generation of inventors, explorers, and achievers.  The exhibit will be on display in Albany, through March 30, at the Legislative Office of Building.  Senator Alesi is also offering an online Women of Distinction exhibit through his website at http://www.nysenate.gov/event/2012/mar/19/women-distinction-exhibit. 

“Women’s History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the enormous contributions of great women from our past,” said Senator Alesi.  “The Women of Distinction exhibit singles out just a few of these extraordinary people as an example of women’s achievements that continue to this very day.” 

Some of the women in the display include Susan B. Anthony, Lucille Ball, “Grandma Moses” Robertson, Harriet Tubman, Emma Willard, among others, all with strong links to New York State. 

The online exhibit contains easy-to-read biographies of these great women, as well as identifying resources, many online, to help visitors learn more.

The Women of Distinction program was created by the Senate in 1998 to recognize the historic contributions of New Yorkers in celebration of National Women’s History Month, observed each March.

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