Zitkala-Sa (1876–1938): A member of the Yankton Dakota Sioux, Zitkala-Sa was a writer and reformer who worked to preserve Native American culture and advocate for their rights. In addition to publishing an anthology of Dakota stories, Old Indian Legends in 1911, she wrote the first Native American opera, The Sun Dance, in 1913. In 1926, she founded the National Council of American Indians where she advocated for citizenship rights, better educational opportunities, improved health care and cultural recognition and preservation.
Pretty Shield (1856–1944) was a medicine woman of the Crow Nation who treated tribal illnesses with medicinal plants. Her biography was written by Frank B. Linderman, who interviewed her using an interpreter and sign language. She recounts her life on the Plains, bringing to life the lives, responsibilities and aspirations of Crow women.
Maude Callen (1898-1990): Maude Callen, known as the “Angel of Twilight” was a nurse and midwife who dedicated her life to helping the poor in rural South Carolina. In 1951, Life magazine published a 12-page profile of her work, detailing her service to the rural poor of her county as doctor, dietitian and psychologist. The article generated more than $20,000 in donations, which she used to open her own health clinic. Throughout her lifetime, Callen delivered between 600-800 babies, trained hundreds of midwives and brought healthcare to thousands.
Rosemary Gladstar: Known to many as the “Godmother of American Herbalism,” Rosemary Gladstar is a teacher and author whose efforts helped pioneer an herbal renaissance movement in the 1970s. She is the founder of the California School of Herbal Studies, the oldest running herbalism school in the United States, the International Herb Symposium and co-founder of the Traditional Medicinals tea company.
Evangeline Smith Adams (1868-1932): Evangeline Smith Adams was a famous astrologer known for the accuracy of her predictions and making astrology legal in New York. After being arrested in NY for fortune telling, she successfully defended her astrological practice in court and was acquitted, setting a precedent for the non-criminality of professional astrology.
Patsy Takemoto Mink (1927–2002): Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first woman of color and the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress. She was also the first woman elected to Congress from the state of Hawaii. In 1972, she co-authored the Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act, later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in 2002.
