With it being Women’s History Month, I will be focusing on women’s history throughout the month. However, with tomorrow being International Women’s Day 2022 I knew that I wanted to do a post specifically highlighting historic women that have influenced me. They have played different roles in history and society, and come from different regions and periods, but all have made their mark in one way or another. In addition to sharing some of their background, I’ve also included where else you can find these women. So, in honour of International Women’s Day, let’s dive in!
Ann Lowe
Ann Lowe is one of the most notable American fashion designers in modern history but has only recently been recognised for her talent and contributions. She designed Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding dress for her 1953 society wedding to John F. Kennedy, and actually ending up designing and creating a second gown in a matter of days after the first was destroyed by flooding. She was a favourite designer for many society families, and worked with both white and black clientele, not common in the mid-twentieth century. Her gowns often feature intricate floral embellishments. (One perfect example was Olivia de Havilland’s gown that she wore when accepting her 1947 Oscar for Best Actress!)
You Can Find… Ann Lowe in fiction! Piper Huguley’s novel, By Her Own Design, is out in June 2022 and explores Lowe’s life and career. (It should be published on 7 June 2022, mark it in your calendar!)
LM Montgomery
If you aren’t Canadian, you might not be intimately acquainted with LM Montgomery. However, most people have heard of Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery wrote several books, many in the Anne series, but also the Emily of New Moon trilogy, and standalone novels. Given that women were still fairly limited in what they could do in the early twentieth century, I find it impressive that a Canadian female author from Prince Edward Island quickly became a beloved author.
And what I find most impressive is the global love of Anne of Green Gables. Anne has been translated into over 20 languages, and has become a beloved children’s classic across the globe. (And while the Anne books are popular, the Emily of New Moon books are also well-known in Scandinavia!)
You Can Find… LM Montgomery’s works on TV, on the stage in a number of different forms!
Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi
More commonly known as the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai was the Maharani of the Jhansi state in the nineteenth century. When the Indian Rebellion started in May of 1857, Lakshmi Bai originally held off from taking part. However, her state was annexed and the British refused to allow her any authority; she then decided to join the rebellion and train and command her own army of both men and women.
Although she died fighting on the battlefield in 1858, her legacy very much lives on in the Indian Nationalist movement and you can find statues of her on horseback throughout India. The British Empire has been touted as a saving empire for decades and decades, but historians are starting to re-examine the empire through the lens of post-colonialism.
You Can Find… the Rani in Michelle Moran’s Rebel Queen! This is one of the strongest historical fiction books I’ve read, I couldn’t put it down.
Margot Fonteyn
I have two posts on Fonteyn scheduled for May in honour of her birthday, but I had to include her on this post. Yes, she was arguably the most talented British ballet dancer to ever grace the stage, and countless roles still performed today were specifically created for her. However, she led a fascinating life both on the stage and off.
Fonteyn served as an unofficial and official ambassador for British fashion in the 1950s; she wore several British designers like Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell (with other dancers) on tours of the US, specifically planned to use her star power to solidify British designers.
And if that wasn’t enough, she danced through the age of 60 to help support her husband. While many dancers will shift out of principal roles and start performing smaller, character roles, she continued to fully perform. (It was to support her husband, but you will find out more in May…)
You Can Find… Fonteyn in several different clips, but this clip of her performing the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty at age 50 is one of my favourites.
In honour of International Women’s Day 2022, I would love to know who your favourite historic women are!
Cheers,
The Historian
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