“It was an honor. It was [a] sad duty, but it was a fitting tribute to the Marines and their families.” 862: Catherine Farrell Adler The First Female Marine to serve in Arlington’s Marine Corps Honor Guard Born: 3 January 1922, Fogo, Newfoundland, Canada Died: 25 December 2021, Arlington, Massachusetts, United States of America Her…
861: Ah Toy The First Chinese Prostitute in San Francisco Born: c.1828 or 1829, Guangzhou, China Died: Possibly 1928, San Jose, California Ah Toy was also a Madam and arguably the most famous Chinese Woman in the Old West. Some sources state her feet were bound in the traditional lotus foot fashion, indicating she was…
860: Harriet Taylor Upton The First Female Vice Chairman of the National Republican Executive Committee Born: 17 December 1853, Ravenna, Ohio, United States of America Died: 2 November 1945, Pasadena, California, United States of America Harriet was a Women’s Suffrage Movement leader and high society lady in Washington DC. Her mentor was Susan B Anthony….
859: Roger Arliner Young The First African American Woman to get a PhD in Zoology Born: 1899, Clifton Forge, Virginia, United States of America* Died: 9 November 1964, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America Roger worked as a zoologist, biologist, and marine biologist. She published her first scholarly article in 1924 and received her…
858: Josephine Hensley The Most Influential Landowner in Helena, Montana Born: 1844, Ireland* Died: 25 October 1899, Helena, Montana, United States of America Also Known As: “Chicago Joe” or Josephine Airey Original Name: Mary Welch Josephine changed her name from Mary to Josephine when she immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1858. Her…
857: Mary Ann Conklin Manager of Seattle’s First Known Brothel Born: 1821, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States of America Died: 1873, Seattle, Washington, United States of America Also Known As: “Mother Damnable” or “Madame Damnable” Mary was married (or at least in a relationship with) a sea captain. After he abandoned her in Washington state,…
856: Elizabeth “Libby” Thompson Madam, Prostitute, and Dance Hall Girl Born: 15 October 1855, Belton, Texas, United States of America Died: 13 April 1953, Los Angeles, California, United States of America Full Name: Mary Elizabeth Haley Thompson Also Known As: Squirrel Tooth Alice (I wish I was kidding) Libby was taken captive by Comanche Native…
855: Dora DuFran One of the Most Successful Madams in Deadwood Born: 16 November 1868, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom Died: 5 August 1934, Rapid City, South Dakota, United States of America Also Known As: Dora Bolshaw Original Name: Amy Helen Dorothea (or Dorothy) Bolshaw Deadwood is one of the most famous towns associated with the…
“I’d rather be a corpse than a coward.” 854: Mary Ellen Pleasant African American Entrepreneur & Abolitionist Born: 19 August 1814, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America* Died: 11 January 1904, San Francisco, California, United States of America Mary Ellen listed ‘Capitalist by Profession’ as her official career description in the 1890 Census. Hell yeah…
853: Soraya Tarzi The First Queen Consort of Afghanistan Born: 14 November 1899, Damascus, Ottoman Empire (Present-day Damascus, Syria) Died: 20 April 1968, Rome, Italy Soraya fought for women’s equality, education rights, and more in her country. Soraya’s father was a liberal-minded thinker and politician. He was a firm advocate for the modernization of Afghanistan,…