Women in Pittsburgh History You Need to Know

Pittsburgh, a city known for its steel and sports, is also home to a rich tapestry of historic women who have left an indelible impact in various fields. These women from Pittsburgh have not only contributed to the city’s growth and development but have also made significant strides on a national and international scale. Their stories are as distinct as they are inspiring, and their accomplishments continue to resonate, shaping the narrative of women’s history.

Here are just some of the women who had a part of Pittsburgh history in one way or another. Today (and every day!) don’t forget to honor the strong, wonderful women in your life.

Mary Cassatt

Painter and printmaker Cassatt was born in May of 1844 in Pittsburgh and lived most of her adult life in France. Chances are you’ve seen her work at one time or another in a museum. Her work influenced bonds between mothers and daughters.  Her unique portrayal of women’s social and private lives made her a standout artist in a male-dominated field.

Gertrude Stein

Did you know the famous novelist, poet, playwright and art collector (portrayed quite well by Kathy Bates in Midnight in Paris) was born in Pittsburgh? Her book The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas skyrocketed her to mainstream literature.

Sophie Masloff

Sophie Masloff was an American political and served as the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1988 to ’94. She was the first woman and first Jewish person to be mayor. She died at the age of 96 in August 2014.

Jane Grey Swisshelm

Swisshelm Park ring a bell anyone? Mrs. Swisshelm was in a terrible marriage that inspired her to devote her life to women’s rights. She was an abolitionist for the Union Army and served as a nurse for them during the Civil War era.

Mary Lou Williams

Mary was known as “the little piano girl” at private parties for the elite like the Mellons back in the early 1900s and 1920s. She later provided a lot of scores for popular swing bands like Benny Goodman’s and Tommy Dorsey’s.

Elsie Hillman

Elsie is known for helping to elect John Heinz to the House of Representatives and Senate and well as Tom Ridge as governor of PA and later President George H.W. Bush. She also gave to many charities around the city.

Eliza Clayland Tomlinson Foster

Mrs. Foster is best known for being the mother to the famous composer Stephen Foster (“Oh Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “My Old Kentucky Home”).

Jennie Bradley Roessing

Jennie was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement of the early 1900s. She helped to form the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association.

Rachel Carson

One such historic woman from Pittsburgh is Rachel Carson, a marine biologist, environmentalist, and writer who catalyzed the global environmental movement with her book “Silent Spring”. Her groundbreaking research and poignant writing played an instrumental role in shaping the public’s perception of pesticides and their detrimental effects on wildlife.

Nellie Bly

Women in Pittsburgh History

Another name etched in the annals of historic women from Pittsburgh is Nellie Bly, a pioneering journalist who pushed the boundaries of investigative journalism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bly is best known for her exposé on the conditions of mental institutions, which led to significant reforms in the treatment of mental health patients. She was also famed for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days.

Bertha Lamme Feicht

Women in Pittsburgh History

Known as the first female mechanical engineer, Bertha Lamme Feicht became the first woman to receive an engineering degree from Ohio State. She’s widely known as the first American female to graduate with a main discipline in engineering rather than just civil engineering. Feicht worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh for 12 years. She died in Pittsburgh in 1943 and is buried in Homewood Cemetery.

Margaret & Stella Stein

Women in Pittsburgh History

The Stein sisters were the first female students admitted to the University of Pittsburgh. The two graduated with B.A. and tied for first in their class. The sisters studied math, astronomy, mathematical chemistry and surveying.

Mrs. John O. Miller

Women in Pittsburgh History

Mrs. John O. Miller, as she was referred to in news stories, was the chairwoman of Pittsburgh’s suffragist movement during the important right-to-vote years leading up to 1920. She spent hours at local gatherings and debates surrounding the subject. Her given name was Lucy Kennedy Miller.

These historic women from Pittsburgh epitomize strength, resilience, and innovation. Their accomplishments continue to inspire future generations, reinforcing the essential role women play in shaping our society. Indeed, the stories of these women are not just a part of Pittsburgh’s history but are integral threads in the broader fabric of women’s global history.

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