Genevieve Caulfield born Suffolk, VA May 8, 1888 (d. 1972). Blind American teacher of the blind; first woman to win Magsaysay Award for Peace and Understanding 1961; opened schools for blind Bangkok 1938, Saigon 1958.
“[T]hat is what life is, the process of going on and on until the work for which we were created comes to an end.” (The Kingdom Within, p. 278; photo rmaf.org)
Edith Cavell born Swardeson, Norfolk, England December 4, 1864 (executed St. Gilles, Belgium 1915). Nurse; executed by Germans for helping escape of Allied soldiers.
"Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." (to Chaplain Gavin; photo wikicommons pd)
Elsa Cedergren (née Bernadotte) born Stockholm, Sweden August 3, 1893 (d. 1996). Quaker granddaughter of Swedish King Oscar II; leader of Action Group against Swedish Nuclear Bomb; head of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), the international association of Quakers 1959-61; the first worldwide meeting of FWCC in Africa, Nairobi 1961.
"[T]he Christian Church must admit its failure in promoting brotherhood and peace." (Stockholm, May 19, 1948, Toledo Blade; photo agefotostock.com)
Ana Maria Cetto Kramis born Mexico City, Mexico February 18, 1946. Mexican physics professor. Director of Pugwash Conference board when it won 1995 Nobel Peace Prize. Deputy Director of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) when it won 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, 2003-10.
“The best protection against nuclear weapons, and the only way to prevent future Hiroshimas and Nagasakis, is to bring about an END TO ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS.” (Genbaku No Hi, Hiroshima, 2010; photo iaea.org)
Motlalepula Chabaku born Johannesburg, South Africa November 19, 1933 (d. 2012). Anti-Apartheid leader of ANC; Methodist minister; President Voice of Women (VOW).
“Hate is not the most effective way. So many of us hate each other because of our positions, because you oppose me. This makes us slaves of those we hate. No, the very person you hate is the person you have got to win." (Breaking the Chain of Hate—FORGIVENESS)
“Women have a special role of working for peace and liberation because we have a great power of peace.” (Joyce Hollyday interview, 2005, Crucible of Fire; photo initiatives of change)
Elizabeth Buffum Chace born Providence, RI December 19, 1806 (d. 1899). Radical pacifist and Quaker abolitionist, suffragist; conductor on underground railroad. Opposed Civil War, Spanish-American War.
"In behalf of the young manhood which war would demoralize, of the human life which war would sacrifice. . . I pray that even at the eleventh hour your efforts to avert this great affliction may be. . . " (Appeal to Pres. McKinley 1898, Wyman, p. 323; photo wikicom pd)
Chai Ling born Rizhao, Shandong, China April 15, 1966. Graduate student in psychology. "General Commander" of Tiananmen protests, 1989; exiled, 1990. Founded All Girls Allowed, 2010.
"But my conscience will not permit me to surrender my power to traitors and schemers. I want to scream at Chinese people everywhere that we are so miserable! We should not kill each other anymore!" (interview at Tienanmen; photo catholicvote.org)
Herschelle Sullivan Challenor born Atlanta, GA October 5, 1938. Civil rights leader; took part in nonviolent sit-in, 1960; founding dean of School of International Relations, Clark Atlanta University; highest ranking American in UNESCO, 1978-91; presided over UN Decade of Cultural Development.
“We read Gandhi and became steeped in civil disobedience philosophy. . . All students participating in picketing were obliged to be properly dressed , to take a vow of nonviolence, and polite at all times.” (Lefever, Undaunted by the Fight, p. 60; photo http://bit.ly/zfBT8A)
Ruth Chalmers born July 17, 1922. Director of Jane Addams Peace Association (JAPA), education wing of WILPF, 1948-1990.
"[Our purpose is] to promote understanding among the peoples of all nations and races so that war and strife may be avoided and a lasting peace enjoyed." (Peace & Freedom, p. 31, Sept. 1985; photo JAPA)
Wendy Jean Chamberlin born Bethesda, MD October 12, 1948. US Ambassador to Laos, 1996-99; US Ambassador to Pakistan, 2001-02; acting head of UN High Commission for Refugees, 2005.
"Education is key in preparing girls to protect themselves and manage their lives. . . It also lays the foundation for girls to aspire for and acquire leadership positions and participate in decision-making." (UNHCR, March 8, 2005; photo haidermullick.com)
Margaret Chan Feng Fu-chun born Hong Kong August 21, 1947. Director-General UN World Health Organization 2006-12; led global fight against Ebola epidemic.
“I have never seen a health event threaten the very survival of societies and governments in already very poor countries. I have never seen an infectious disease contribute so strongly to potential state failure. . . [W]hat has moved from a public health crisis to threaten international peace and security.” (WHO, Oct. 13, 2014. Manila; photo eldiario.com.uy)
Sucheng Chan born Chicago, IL April 16, 1941. First Asian-American provost of University of California; founder of first department of Asian-American studies, Santa Barbara; opposed wars in Vietnam and Cambodia.
"Due to these Machiavellian political calculations on the part of the superpowers and their allies, the second Cambodian civil war (also known as the Third Indochina War) dragged on for twelve long years." (Not Just Victims, p. 17; photo claremontmckenna.edu)
Elizabeth Margaret Chandler born Centre, DE December 24, 1807 (d. 1834). Quaker; abolitionist; poet and pioneer of women's peace; rejected patriotic parades.
No, love; for that shining and brilliant display,
To me only tells of war's fearful array;
And I know that those bayonets, flashing so bright,
Were made in man's blood to be spoil'd of their light.
(Looking at the Soldiers; port, Mich. Women's Hall of Fame)
Laura Ormiston Chant (née Dibbin) born Woolaston, Gloucestershire, England October 9, 1849 (d. 1923). English suffragist, social reformer, poet, and author. First woman vice-president of Peace Society, 1889. Undertook relief work in Bulgaria for Armenian refugees, 1894-96. Led Red Cross nurses in Greek war on Crete, 1897. Opposed toy soldiers, arguing for peace education in the nursery.
“[I] could not imagine a mother looking on placidly at the number of men who were trained in the world for no other purpose than to be run through with bayonets.” (Journal of IAPA, July 31, 1885, in Heloise Brown, Truest form of Patriotism, p. 127; photo fineartamerica.com)
Elaine Chao born Taipei, Taiwan March 26, 1943. Third female director of US Peace Corps, 1991-92; sent first volunteers to post-Soviet Russia. First Chinese-American Cabinet member, serving as Secretary of Labor, 2001-07.
“Our volunteers are precisely what is needed, because they go out into the country, at the grass-roots level, and actually transfer information and skills.” (LA Times, Oct. 18, 1992; photo Wikipedia)
Augusta Jane Chapin born Lakeville, NY July 16, 1836 (d. 1905). Universalist Minister, chief woman organizer of Parliament of World's Religions Chicago 1893.
"I am here in the midst of this unique assemblage to represent womanhood and woman's part in it all." (welcome speech, Sept. 11, 1893; photo Wikipedia)
Maria Weston Chapman born Weymouth, MA July 25, 1806 (d. 1885). "Joan of Arc of the Anti-Slavery Movement" (Elizabeth Pease); "Garrison's Lieutenant"; co-founder of world's first nonviolent society 1838, edited first nonviolent newspaper.
"We may draw good out of evil; we must not do evil, that good may come." (speech, NY 1855; photo Unitarian-Universalist Assn.)
Mariana W. Chapman born New York, NY March 14, 1843 (d. 1907). American pacifist leader; suffragist. Author of The Inherent Immorality of War, 1901.
“[Y]ou will have your true peace force behind this government when you admit women to a voice in government, when their opinions not only influence, but are counted at the ballot-box as well.” (comment at Amer. Friends Peace Conf. 1901, p. 104; photo Swarthmore Col.)
Solange Chaput-Rolland born Montréal, Quebec, Canada May 14, 1919 (d. 2001). Writer, politician, and peace activist. Leader of Voice of Women for Peace (VOW). Member of Quebec National Assembly, 1979-81; Canadian Senator, 1988-94.
“VOW. . . has only condensed its thoughts on one precise, moral attitude toward nuclear armament or nuclear tests. . . at one day, at one specific hour, one is called to choose one’s truth and live by it.” (Tarah Brookfield, Cold War Comforts, 2012, p. 91; photo boitedependore.com)
Ilka Chase born New York, NY April 8, 1903 (d. 1978). American actress and novelist, Quaker pacifist.
"[W]e live in a lunatic world where the only way to maintain peace is to have an enormous war-making machine." (Free Admission, 1948; photo allatarpics)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
