May Wood Simons and International Women’s Day

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day and this moment has a surprising Evanston connection in May Wood Simons. Simons and her husband, Algie, were Evanston residents for many years and were active in the early years of the Socialist Party in America. Simons wrote for and edited several socialist publications, including

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Mayme Spencer

Attorney Mayme Finley Spencer was Evanston’s first African-American female alderman. She came to Evanston in 1957 with her husband Warren, a doctor at the Community Hospital. Spencer was elected alderman in 1963 and served two terms. A graduate of Kent College of Law, Spencer practiced law for many years at a Chicago law firm while

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Looking Forward

Join us on January 27, 2011 for a special event where we culminate a year of exploring Evanston’s women’s history with a look toward the future, asking “What issues do women face today that need our leadership?” This evening will include a viewing of the 2010 YWCA Evanston/North Shore YWomen Leadership Award film by Susan Hope

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Women Who Served

Visit the Evanston History Center research room to see a new small exhibit that tells the story of Evanston women who served in WWI and WWII. The exhibit was curated by our Fall intern, Hannah Van Loon. It covers several stories of Evanston women in the wars. Here is just a highlight… Mary Glenn (1892-1972)

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YWomen Leadership Award

The Evanston Women’s History Project is proud to announce that it is one of the recipients of the 2010 YWomen Leadership Awards from the YWCA Evanston/North Shore! The YWomen Leadership awards honor and celebrate women and organizations for their work to empower women, eliminate racism, promote justice and encourage women’s leadership. For more information about

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Kay Davis

Katherine McDonald Wimp (better known by her stage name, Kay Davis) (1920 – ) was a classically trained vocalist, receiving her Masters Degree from Northwestern University in 1943.  She joined Duke Ellington’s band in 1944 as one of his trio of female singers and toured with the band throughout the U.S. and Europe in the

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