Missouri Celebrates Women’s History Month by Remembering the State’s Most Influential Women

By Kaylee Priest, News Staffer

Published: March 27, 2025

(Credit to Cherry Ann Clark)

Harriett Woods

Harriett Woods was born in 1927. Growing up in University City and dying in 2007 at the age of 79 years old, Woods was the first female Lieutenant governor of Missouri along with a democratic politician and an activist for women’s rights. In the early 1960s she began to work on a talk show as a writing narrator and host that was streamed on local television stations. There she discussed topics of child abuse, women’s rights, civil rights and issues about wars. In 1967 she was given her first role in office to finish out a term of a previous member. In 1976, she was given a different role in office and tried to run for state senate at the same time. This was not a popular time for women to be running in office, so she was one of only two women running. During her time in office she was able to strengthen nursing home regulations, improve drunk driving laws, along with helping fix education, mental health and poverty issues.

“Harriett Woods was working behind the scenes to help get things done, you most likely knew her but she wasn’t one of those politicians people hated,” history teacher Kimberly Coil said. “She helped a lot with women’s rights and drunk driving laws for sure.”

(Credit to Cherry Ann Clark)

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, and died in 2014. She was most famous for being a poet and a civil rights activist. But she was also a singer, dancer, actress, composer and Hollywood’s first black female director. She’s known for the memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” which was published in 1969. This book made headlines for being the first nonfiction bestseller made by a black woman. She was an inspiration to many young black women through her speeches and poems she wrote and preached.

“She was more than just a writer, she was also a civil rights activist and the first black female director,” English teacher Rowan Pugh said. “She was able to take her writing skills to different avenues of the world.”

(Credit to Cherry Ann Clark)

Joshphine Baker

Joshphine Baker was born in 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri, and died in 1975 at the age of 68. She became famous in France for being an entertainer with her singing and dancing. She also worked for the French resistance movement and fought for civil rights in the United States in the 50s and 60s. By the end of her life she managed to adopt 12 children of different ethnicities that she referred to as her “rainbow tribe.” Baker was an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and black rights.

(Credit to Cherry Ann Clark)

Susan Blow

Susan Blow was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1843 and died in New York City and 1916. Blow was considered one of the most important leaders in the education system at the time. She founded the first public kindergarten in St. Louis in 1879 and ran it for almost 11 years unpaid. Schools and classrooms at the time were very plain, dry and boring. She made her classroom very bright and cheerful, allowing plenty of plants, books, toys and colors for the children to use during work and playtime. Shortly after 1884 Blow became very sick so she traveled to New York City to try and improve her health but unfortunately passed away in 1916 at the age of 73.

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