Women peacemakers born today

1838 Elizabeth Spence Watson born Newcastle-on-Tyne, England (d. 1919). Quaker absolute pacifist; suffragist. Opposed all wars, including World War I.
1859 Florence Kelley (d. 1932). Quaker-raised social reformer; co-founded WILPF, NAACP, Womens Peace Party; opposed World War I; anti-imperialist; Socialist; suffragist; peacemaking colleague of Jane Addams.

1876 Elisabeth Freeman born Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (d. 1942). Anglo-American militant suffragist and pacifist who opposed World War I; organized spectacular suffrage protests including leading a yellow gypsy wagon in DC; NAACP Anti-Lynching Campaign in Texas 1916; first women’s train on presidential campaign 1916.

1881 Constanze Hallgarten born Leipzig (d. 1969). Leading German Jewish pacifist; WILPF founding member; leader of German Peace Cartel (DFK); organized Munich Peace Exhibition 1927; exiled by Hitler.
1897 Irène Joliot-Curie born Paris, France (d. 1956). Nobel Chemistry Prize 1930; Cold War pro-Communist pacifist; engaged feminist; suffragette; leader of World Women’s Committee Against War and Fascism 1934; Resistance to Nazis WWII; leader of pacifist Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF); supported Stockholm Appeal for Peace 1950; signed Russell-Einstein Call for Peace of Scientists 1955. Opposed use of nuclear material for bombs.

1940 Linda Gray born Santa Monica, CA. Nonviolent activist actress, opposed to war; decade as UN Goodwill Ambassador 1998-2007, including mission to Nicaragua on childrens' health; chaired UNFPA's Face to Face Campaign, to raise awareness of women denied basic human rights, including reproductive health care and family planning.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1984 First National Women's Conference to Prevent Nuclear War, Washington DC, speaker Joanne Woodward.