Women's History Month

Since 1984, Women's Network has celebrated Women's History Month by bringing our community special programs that combine artistic expression with educational content. Past programs have included: Original readers' theater productions Women of the West (1984) and Talking With . . .(1986); a program by Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (1987); a workshop on Mothers & Daughters (1988); an exhibit of the paintings of Elizabeth Layton (1989); school assemblies/public performances by storyteller Elizabeth Ellis: What Was Her Name? (1990); A Prairie Song Social with an address by the late Lois Straight Johnson (1991); Butterick on Parade, fashions from the 1890s followed by a formal tea (1992); Political Paradox, an address by Dr. Linda Reese (1993); Great Women of the Frontier (1994) by Laurette Willis, as well as the premiere of her Great Women of the Oil Fields in 1997; a reprise of My Years in Office by Wilma Mankiller (1995). In 1996, the 75th anniversary of the 19th Amendment was celebrated with Trial of the Century, the re-enactment at our local Washington County courthouse of the trial of Susan B. Anthony. Other programs include Women In and Out of Love, a musical revue with local musicians (1998); Womenspeak, a readers' theater play by Stillwater Women's Political Caucus (1999); Amelia Earhart and Calamity Jane: One Frontier, Differently, a presentation by Dr. Joyce Thierer and Ann Birney (2000); and for our twentieth anniversary in 1991, NPR humorist Luanne Thomas.

Taproots

The first volume of TAPROOTS: Transcription of the Bartlesville Women's Network Oral History Project was published in October of 1994. As of October 2000, five volumes of our interviews with local women ìwho have made a differenceî have been published. more info

History-Maker of the Year

In 1990, the Bartlesville Women's Network instituted an annual History-Maker of the Year award. Recipients of the award are outstanding advocates/pioneers devoted to improving the human conditions in any arena of human life. The contributions of these women have also advanced the status of women either by example or direct action, through a single achievement or by cumulative effort throughout a lifetime.

 

2006 Mildred Todd

2005 Alice Ririe

2004 Annette Ketchum

2003 Charlotte Lyke

2002 Helen Pittman

2001 Edna Mae Cogswell

2000 Harriet Guthrie

1999 Bettye Dailey Williams

1998 Vel Mason

1996 Mildred Reusser

1995 Odie McReynolds

1994 Joanne Riney Bennett

1993 Nan Buhlinger

1992 Betty Rausch Frey

1991 Lois Straight Johnson

1990 Judge Janice P. Dreiling

 

History-Makers of the Past

1991 Ruth Brown, librarian and civil rights activist in Bartlesville, 1919-1950; awarded posthumously.

1997 During Bartlesville's centennial year, we honored each anonymous wife, mother, sister and daughter who helped develop and civilize our area during its oil boom years a century ago.