The Nineteenth

Design is frequently about creating a space, image, culture, impact, or impression that changes a person's day. It defines what people experience. Huge developments, widespread distributions, down to the smallest impacts. Betty Willis designed a sign that has stood for 60 years, welcoming and initiating an experience for all in Las Vegas. Nevada is the 28th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on February 7, 1920. “It’s a powerful combination of symbolism, kitsch and mythology,” said Hal Rothman, a history professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. “It embodies the casual hipness of Las Vegas, nostalgia for the Rat Pack minus Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.” “It’s a call to arms for our city because ‘fabulous’ is what we do best,” said Richard Hooker, the city’s senior cultural specialist. “Classic neon artists like Betty are the design heroes of the city, giving the place an image in the public mind. Their signs are like music to the eyes.” The neon lights were t...

Mother to one of our current Associate Justice of the Peace, Anne Gorsuch Burford was the first Woman Administrator to the Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately and regardless of being a leader to a lot of similarities to what we are experiencing right now, she was a pioneer. Wyoming is the 27th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on January 27, 1920. In 1981, Ronald Reagan appointed Ms. Gorsuch Burford to Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She moved through school quickly, graduating University of Colorado Boulder at 19 and receiving her Juris Doctor (law) degree at 22. She received a Fulbright Scholarship to study criminal law in Jaipur, India for one year with her husband David Gorsuch. She served most of her representation in Colorado before joining Reagan’s transition team. Her nomination was unanimously agreed upon in 1981. Her “New Federalist” approach to the EPA pushed to downsize federal agencies to the states and cut the budget of...

Breaking of the half way point of the blog (!!! I know right?!?!), I bring a singer that brought R&B, soul, and gospel music to the masses. The "Black Butterfly" Deniece Williams. Indiana was the 26th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on January 16, 1920. Ms. Williams came to a career in music, leaving her goals of being a nurse, showing that the schooling was not her strength. Her career soared quickly resulting in being called many things including “one of the great soul voices” and “the Black Butterfly” to name a few. Through her life she has received four Grammy’s and twelve nominations. Her R&B and soul music includes partnerships in the early 1970s with industry leaders including back up singer for Stevie Wonder Streeta Wright, Minnie Riperton, and Roberta Flack. Signing with Columbia Records in 1975, she began her streak of seventeen albums. By 1986, she was able to turn her soul music to her true life passion of Gospel. Instead of limiting to o...

I found this webpage that documents a lot about women's rights in countries around the world. Where we have advanced over the past 100 years, there are still countries all over that struggle for the bare essential rights we have already started to take for granted. We need to remember that the fight is not over for the world. Vatican City Vatican City is the only remaining country that women cannot vote. And, at this trajectory, never will. As the centre of the Roman Catholic Church, the only people that can vote at all are the cardinals, operating on a religious doctrine. There is a story, fact or fable, that a woman was once about to be ordained as Pope when she delivered a baby on her way. Yet to be confirmed ... or debunked. Afghanistan Ruled by Shi’a Family Law, since 2009, women are not permitted to leave the home. In 2014, women did turn out in record numbers to vote and run for office. Through protests and threats of exile and persecution, they stood together to mak...

One of my most favorite authors of my youth, a centenarian at 103 years old, Beverly Cleary. Oregon was the 25th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on January 13, 1920. Ms. Cleary’s children’s and young adult books sold worldwide more than 91 million copies since 1950. As a pioneer in children’s literature, she brought emotional realism to her characters. Well awarded with top honors throughout her career, she also is the namesake of a Portland public school and statues of her characters in Grant Park in 1995. As a young student, she struggled to read and was placed in remedial groups until opening up with the help of the librarian. This person’s care inspired Ms. Cleary to receive a Master’s from the University of Washington for library sciences. Her first book, Henry Huggins, with his dog and two friends Ramona and Beezus, shared ordinary stories of neighborhood growing up. Five years later she focused on Ramona and Beezus. She has also written two memoirs later in her...

Rhode Island, such a small state, but still filled with the history and women we see everywhere in the country. They pushed for equality and brought great voices to the forefront. Rhode Island was the 24th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on January 6, 1920. Ms. O’Neill left her large family of thirteen children to attend Boston College of Drama and Oratory, kick starting her career on stage and film. She founded a school of elocution in 1900. The students frequently performed at the Providence Opera House. Concurrently, she started her own career for two decades in summer stock and vaudeville shows. By 1915, she entered silent films with the Providence-based Eastern Film Corporation. By 1910, she joined the suffragist movement and campaigned for the Democrats in Rhode Island. Her skills in elocution were essential to beginning a career in politics. In 1922, two years after the right to vote was ratified, she was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives as th...

Kentucky reaches a model of fashion for my blog in honor of my sister Jenn. She is my personal fashionista and socialite, keeping us both informed and entertained with a life of shows, parties, traditions, and excitement. Kentucky being one of her favorite traditions with the Kentucky Derby, an annual event we celebrate in full dress. Kentucky is the 23rd state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on January 6, 1920. We are now in the '20's! Mona von Bismarck is an American socialite coined as the “first American muse of fashion” and noted as the most fashionable woman in the world. Her life in Kentucky was always a part of her life regardless of her elite lifestyle spread throughout New York City and Paris. She was painted by Salvador Dali, revered in her day and known as one of the most celebrated socialites. A panel including Coco Chanel recognized her as the best dressed woman in the world. Marrying her first of five husbands, she had one son, Robert Henry, raised by h...