Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 42 / Thursday, March 5, 2009 / Presidential Documents 9747 

Proclamation 8351 of March 3, 2009 

Women’s History Month, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

With passion and courage, women have taught us that when we band 

together to advocate for our highest ideals, we can advance our common 

well-being and strengthen the fabric of our Nation. Each year during Women’s 

History Month, we remember and celebrate women from all walks of life 

who have shaped this great Nation. This year, in accordance with the theme, 

‘‘Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet,’’ we pay particular tribute 

to the efforts of women in preserving and protecting the environment for 

present and future generations. 

Ellen Swallow Richards is known to have been the first woman in the 

United States to be accepted at a scientific school. She graduated from 

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1873 and went on to become 

a prominent chemist. In 1887, she conducted a survey of water quality 

in Massachusetts. This study, the first of its kind in America, led to the 

Nation’s first state water-quality standards. 

Women have also taken the lead throughout our history in preserving our 

natural environment. In 1900, Maria Sanford led the Minnesota Federation 

of Women’s Groups in their efforts to protect forestland near the Mississippi 

River, which eventually became the Chippewa National Forest, the first 

Congressionally mandated national forest. Marjory Stoneman Douglas dedicated her life to protecting and restoring the Florida Everglades. Her book, 

The Everglades: Rivers of Grass, published in 1947, led to the preservation 

of the Everglades as a National Park. She was awarded the Presidential 

Medal of Freedom in 1993. 

Rachel Carson brought even greater attention to the environment by exposing 

the dangers of certain pesticides to the environment and to human health. 

Her landmark 1962 book, Silent Spring, was fiercely criticized for its unconventional perspective. As early as 1963, however, President Kennedy acknowledged its importance and appointed a panel to investigate the book’s 

findings. Silent Spring has emerged as a seminal work in environmental 

studies. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1980. 

Grace Thorpe, another leading environmental advocate, also connected environmental protection with human well-being by emphasizing the vulnerability of certain populations to environmental hazards. In 1992, she launched 

a successful campaign to organize Native Americans to oppose the storage 

of nuclear waste on their reservations, which she said contradicted Native 

American principles of stewardship of the earth. She also proposed that 

America invest in alternative energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar 

power, and wind power. 

These women helped protect our environment and our people while challenging the status quo and breaking social barriers. Their achievements 

inspired generations of American women and men not only to save our 

planet, but also to overcome obstacles and pursue their interests and talents. 

They join a long and proud history of American women leaders, and this 

month we honor the contributions of all women to our Nation. 


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9748 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 42 / Thursday, March 5, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as 

Women’s History Month. I call upon all our citizens to observe this month 

with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history, 

accomplishments, and contributions of American women. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of 

March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. 

[FR Doc. E9–4856 

Filed 3–4–09; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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