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30 Important Women in History You May Not Have Heard of

These women are vital to history. Discover why.

By Sara Barry & Kelsey Christine McConnell | Updated Mar 8, 2021 | Published Mar 28, 2019
women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons and Alchetron

Florence Howe (1929-2020)

important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Learn more about Florence Howe.

A Life in Motion
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Annie Londonderry (1870-1947)

important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Learn more about Annie Londonderry.

Around the World on Two Wheels
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Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Learn more about Rachel Carson.

Rachel Carson
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Dolores Huerta (1930-Present)

dolores huerta
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Ellen Ochoa (1958-Present)

Ellen Ochoa
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Patsy Mink (1927-2002)

patsy mink
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Jillian Mercado (1987-Present)

jillian mercado
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  • Photo Credit: Alchetron

Fatima al-Fihri (c.800 AD-c.880 AD)

fatima al-fihri
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  • Photo Credit: Alchetron

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)

wangari maathai important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Siddhesh Joshi/Alchetron

Gertrude Elion (1918-1999)

gertrude elion important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949)

sarojini naidu important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Sneha Girap/Alchetron

Mary Anning (1799-1847)

mary anning important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sappho (c. 630-c. 570 BC)

sappho important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Victoria Cruz (1945-present)

victoria cruz important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Netflix

Madonna Thunder Hawk (1940-present)

madonna thunder hawk important women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Warrior Women Project

Peggy Shippen Arnold (1760-1804)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Alice Coachman (1922-2014)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: The Coli

Margaret Hamilton (1936-present)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Wu Zetian (624-705)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sybil Ludington (1761-1839)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Statue of Ludington in Carmel, NY

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Huda Sha'arawi (1879-1947)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Oregon State University / Flickr (CC)

Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị (c. 12-c. 43 AD)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: manhhai / Flickr (CC)

Dorothy Lawrence (1896-1964)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Left: Dorothy Lawrence in her teens. Right: Dorothy Lawrence as a solder

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Edmonia Lewis (1843-1907)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Hypatia of Alexandria (370-415)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • A depiction of the death of Hypatia. 

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Grace Hopper (1906-1992)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Zelda Fitzgerald (1900-1948)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Zelda with her husband F. Scott Fitzgerald.

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Rose Marie McCoy (1922-2015)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Alchetron

Shirley Chisolm (1924-2005)

important women in history famous women in history
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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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