It is March which means it is time to celebrate Women’s History Month in New Jersey. New Jersey has been the birthplace of many inspirational women such as Whitney Houston, Zoe Saldana, and Erna Hoover.
Never has there been a better time to learn about some of the significant women in New Jersey’s history. While history books can often downplay some of the achievements of women compared to men, this is a time when women can truly be elevated. Go beyond the books to participate in family-friendly Women’s History Month activities that will make what you all learn more relevant and memorable.
There are many ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in New Jersey including virtual programs, in-person events across the state, museum exhibits, checking out library books, and more. After the month is over, be sure to continue to learn about women’s history through some of these virtual programs that will be recorded, through museums dedicated to women’s history, through listening to music made by women from New Jersey, and more.
Celebrate Women’s History Month at these Local New Jersey Library Events
North Jersey Women’s History Month events for kids and teens
Englewood, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 2, 2022, at 7 pm there will be a virtual program on Zoom about the history of 15 women in New York at a time when there was not full equality for women through the Englewood Library. Register at https://bccls.libcal.com/event/8544724.
- On March 8, 2022, at 7 pm there will be a virtual program on Zoom through the Englewood library about The Lowell Mill Girls Organized Labor and the First Strikes in America. It is about women in the textile industry. Register at https://bccls.libcal.com/event/8492482.
Hoboken, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- The Hoboken Library will have a virtual event on March 16, 2022 at 10 am focused on Artist Lynn Hershman Leeson. Register at https://bccls.libcal.com/event/8877675.
Livingston, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- The Livingston Library will have a virtual program about the History of the First Women in America on March 14, 2022 at 7 pm. Register at https://bccls.libcal.com/event/8460896.
River Vale, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- There will be an in person and virtual event at the River Vale Library about Great Women Artists of the 20th Century by Mario Medici. Register at https://bccls.libcal.com/event/8900066.
![[Rosa Parks] "Poor Peoples March at Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, [Washington, D.C.]" Original black and white negative by Warren K. Leffler. Taken June 19th, 1968, Washington D.C, United States Washington D.C, United States (@libraryofcongress). Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017650273/](https://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Picture-of-Rosa-Parks-unseen-histories-yKcTmJxGfsM-unsplash-580x870.jpeg)
Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash
Central Jersey Women’s History Month events for kids and teens
Hopewell, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 9, 2022 at 2 pm there will be an indoor program discussing the short stories of Toni Cade Bambara including “The Lesson,” “Raymond’s Run,” and “Gorilla, My Love.” at the Hopewell Library. Register at https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MCL&curID=561018&CFID=39199339&CFTOKEN=3391267180b34a21-055611F7-D4AE-528A-5350C9D73C0A12AB.
- On March 9, 2022 at 7 pm there will be a livestream and virtual event at the Hopewell Branch Library called Women Lighthouse Keepers. Registration is required.
- On March 23, 2022 at 7 pm there will be a virtual presentation from the Hopewell Branch Library about the Bridge Builder in Petticoats: Emily Warren Roebling and the Brooklyn Bridge. Register at https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MCL&curID=548772&CFID=39199339&CFTOKEN=3391267180b34a21-055611F7-D4AE-528A-5350C9D73C0A12AB.
- On March 23, 2022 at 7 pm there will be a Livestream at the Hopewell Branch LIbrary to discuss A Girl Called Rumi with author Ari Honarvar. Register at https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MCL&curID=561024&CFID=39199339&CFTOKEN=3391267180b34a21-055611F7-D4AE-528A-5350C9D73C0A12AB.
- On March 28, 2022 at 6:30 pm there will be a Virtual program on Women’s Suffrage in Red Scare America at the Hopewell Branch Library. Register at https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MCL&curID=561024&CFID=39199339&CFTOKEN=3391267180b34a21-055611F7-D4AE-528A-5350C9D73C0A12AB.
Lawrence, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 31, 2022, the Lawrence Library will host a Women’s History Month Film Screening: Little Women. Get the details in this event listing. Registration is required.
Lawrenceville, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 8, 2022 there will be a Women in Princeton’s History Virtual Event and Live Stream at the Lawrenceville Branch Library at 1 pm. Registration with an email is required.
- On March 7, 2022 there will be an Indoor Let’s Celebrate Women Artists Program. On March 21st and 29th at 6:30 pm there will be an Outdoor Let’s Celebrate Women Artists Program at the Lawrenceville Library. Kids will learn about a new artist and create artwork inspired by their work. Registration is required and will be up on the day of each event at 7 am on the Mercer County Library System event page.
Robbinsville, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 9, 2022 at 7 pm there will be an indoor programat the Robbinsville Library with a fictional Titanic survivor named Eliza Blackwell Dupree. Learn more in our event listing.
![[Mary Church Terrell, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing front]. Photograph from the Biographical Collection, [between 1880 and 1900, printed later]. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/97500102/ Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash](https://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mary-Church-Terrell-library-of-congress-wQZxWhTrkmg-unsplash-580x810.jpeg)
South Jersey Women’s History Month events for kids and teens
Brick Township, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- Stop by the Brick Branch Library during the month of March for a Women’s History Month make and take craft.
- There will be a virtual Women’s History Month bookshelf through the Brick Branch Library starting March 1, 2022 with great book recommendations this month.
Cape May, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- During the month of March there will be a digital Women’s History escape room available through the Cape May County Library. It is geared towards ages 11 through 18 years old.
Cherry Hill, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 15, 2022 at 7 pm there will be a Teen Book Club virtually and in person at the Cherry Hill Library. It is geared towards grades 6 through 12. Readers are invited to share books with fierce female characters or authors.
- On March 22, 2022 at 7 pm there will be a virtual program about Lisa Meitner – A Physics Love Story held through the Cherry Hill Library.
Forked River, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- The Lacey Branch Library will be showing a virtual Powerpoint on Hedy Lamarr on March 4, 2022 at 9 am.
Lavallette, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- The Upper Shores Branch Library will be having a Women’s History Month Scavenger Hunt starting on March 1, 2022. There will be clues to find around the library and chances to win a prize.
Little Egg Harbor Township Women’s History Month Events
- On March 31, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm there will be a viewing of the documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry about the women’s movement from 1966 to 1971. There will be a movie streaming through Kanopy and a discussion will be held through the Little Egg Harbor Township Library. Register at https://theoceancountylibrary.org/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D157307952.
Long Branch, NJ Black History Month Events
- There is a Women’s History Month Photography Exhibition by David Burwell that will be in the community space of the main Long Branch library this month from March 16, 2022 to the 29, 2022. There will be portraits shown of inspirational women who are leaders. There will also be a “Storytelling for Personal Empowerment” workshop by Sharon D’Agostino on March 30, 2022 at 7 pm.
Toms River, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 1, 2022 there will be a Make and Take Trivia Board Game for Women’s History Month at the Toms River Library that will be available.
- On March 1, 2022 there will be a Great Books that Celebrate Women’s History Month virtual program available at https://theoceancountylibrary.org/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D157450348.
- Starting on March 1, 2022 there will be a Women’s History Month trivia quiz available through the Toms River Library at https://theoceancountylibrary.org/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D157335526.
- On March 15, 2022 there will be a Women’s History Month Make and Take Watercolor Craft at the Toms River Library.
Moorestown, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- At 2 pm on March 9, 2022 the Moorestown Library will have a virtual program on Civil War Nurses. Register at https://moorestownlibrary.libcal.com/event/8902343.
![[Susie King Taylor, known as the first African American Army nurse], detail, frontispiece of book published in 1902. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003653538/ Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash](https://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Susie-King-Taylor-known-as-the-first-African-American-Army-nurse-library-of-congress-6R68ni9WTss-unsplash-492x900.jpeg)
Mount Laurel, NJ Women’s History Month Events
- On March 29, 2022 at 1 pm in the Mount Laurel Library there will be a talk on Women and Tea in the Victorian Era. No registration is required.
Learn about Women’s History in New Jersey
New Jersey Attractions Dedicated to Women’s History
Alice Paul Institute in Mount Laurel
This is a permanent exhibit honoring the suffragette Alice Paul. It will reopen on March 31, 2022 by appointment. Open to everyone for tours between 12 pm and 5 pm. Tours are available by advance appointment only.
There is a self-guided outdoor audio tour that includes 10 stops and starts at the white sign box next to the house where it can then be accessed on a smartphone. For this, there does not need to be any reservations made and visitors should just arrive between dawn and dusk. Currently, there is a virtual tour available on the website at https://www.alicepaul.org/visit/.
Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May
The Harriet Tubman Museum pays homage to an incredible woman who helped free many slaves in her lifetime. Cape May was actually a center of abolitionist activity and a place where Harriet worked while freeing slaves. To find out more information about hours and admission visit their website.
The Women’s Federation Monument in Alpine
Palisades Interstate Park holds this monument that appears to be a small castle-like structure, built in 1929, in honor of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Club’s role in helping to preserve the Palisades. To learn more about this and see a virtual tour visit https://www.njpalisades.org/womens.html. This is also one of the stops on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail.
Clara Barton Exhibits in Bordentown
- My husband and I saw this outdoor exhibit during the Holiday Chocolate Walk in Bordentown. It looks cool when it is lit up at night. It is set up in front of the Bordentown Historical Society building.
Clara Barton Schoolhouse
- The schoolhouse is open by appointment only. Call 609-298-1740 or email [email protected]. It was built in 1839 and has been undergoing restoration to its 1921 in honor of Clara Barton’s 200th birthday in 2021.
Bordentown Self-Guided Walking Tour
- The walking tour can be found here: https://bordentownhistory.org/bhs-self-guided-walking-tour/
- If you want to visit the sites related to women’s history see sites number 4 (the Clara Barton Schoolhouse), 33 (the Site of the Priscilla Braisin School), and 56 (the Patient Wright House aka the first woman sculptress).
- The Point Breeze Estate in Bordentown was once the home of Charlotte Bonaparte.
There is a Clara Barton webinar available for viewing online at https://bordentownhistory.org/clara-barton-video/.
Other New Jersey Activities and Attractions to Visit During Women’s History Month
Montclair Art Museum Public Tour for Women’s History Month in Montclair
At 11 am on March 12th there is a tour of the art museum that is focused on art made by women. Admission tickets must be purchased to the museum and an advanced online RSVP must be made.
Private tours can also be booked by emailing [email protected].
The Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark
For Women’s History Month The Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark will be honoring some famous musical New Jersey women. They also have a Spotify playlist at https://www.grammymuseumexp.org/2021/03/19/womens-history-month/.
Roebling Museum
The Roebling Museum is a great place to learn about the Roebling family including Emily Roebling. While there learn the history of the town as well. My daughter loved the mini bridge outside for kids that she could walk over. It is visually appealing from the outside with lots of industrial equipment surrounding the museum. Get the hours and more information on the Roebling Museum website or learn more from our story, A Trip to the Roebling Museum ~ A Fun and Informative Family Visit, based on a previous visit.
Stockton University Women’s History Month Events in Galloway
Stockton University will be holding multiple events on its campus throughout the month of March. Since some are still being planned visit this page to see all of them.
Hopewell one woman play called Independence: The True Story of Dr. Mary Walker
For a $25 ticket at 3 pm on March 20, 2022 there will be a play and discussion about Dr. Mary Walker at the Hopewell Theater.
Maplewood Windows for Women
For the month of March, the female business owners in Maplewood will feature work from female artists in the windows of Maplewood businesses. There will be a map available on the Maplewood Village NJ website.
Morven Museum Virtual Event of Abigail, Annis & Founding Era Female Leaders: An Evening with Woody Holton
This Women’s History virtual event will be at 6:30 pm on March 22nd. Tickets for the event can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/abigail-annis-founding-era-female-leaders-an-evening-with-woody-holton-tickets-235009970147.
Virtual Events through the Princeton Historical Society
Women in Princeton’s History from Homme
- This is a recorded virtual event about women in Princeton’s history. To get a link to watch this event email [email protected].
Author Discussion: Kate Quinna and Lauren Willing
- A recorded event where the authors discuss their books called “The Rose Code” and “Band of Sisters: A Novel”.
Digital Exhibition of Princeton and Women’s Suffrage: “The Greatest Question of the Day”
Exploring “Princeton and Women’s Suffrage”: An Exhibition Talk
More video debates about women’s suffrage in Princeton can be viewed on YouTube.
10 Important New Jersey Figures who are Women
Clara Barton
Clara Barton had her first teaching job in Hightstown and founded the first public school in Bordentown NJ in 1852. She later was a nurse and helped during the Franco-Prussian war. In addition, Clara was the founder and the first president of the American Red Cross. She spearheaded many disaster relief operations with the American Red Cross for 23 years.
Charlotte Bonaparte
Charlotte Bonaparte was the niece of Napoleon. She lived in the U.S. later in life in an estate in Bordentown. Charlotte did a lot of artwork of New Jersey landscapes.
Elizabeth Haddon
Elizabeth Haddon’s house, built on land her father purchased in 1713, later led to the formation of the town Haddonfield in 1735. She and her husband built the New Haddonfield Plantation and a Quaker meeting house. Elizabeth also learned many customs from the Lenape in the area.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a key player in the suffragist movement for women and was also outspoken on her views about abolition. She was well known for holding the first Woman’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY in 1848.
People abroad knew Stanton from her attendance at the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London. While she lived most of her life in other places, she had a house in Tenafly for 19 years. During this time she often visited with Susan B. Anthony and spoke to many people about women’s rights.
Dionne Warwick
Dionne sang with the Gospelaires in her early life. This famous singer is known for being the first African American female solo artist to receive a Grammy in 1958. She later served as the U.S. Ambassador of Health. She is currently running an interior design and a television production company.
Annis Boudinot Stockton
Annis Boudinot Stockton was a patriotic poet. She named the property Morven on which she and her husband lived and built a house beginning in the late 1750s. She transformed Morven into the role it has today of being a center for culture.
“Annis is one of America’s earliest published female poets, immortalizing heroes of the Revolution such as George Washington, who called her ‘the elegant Muse of Morven'”, from the Morven Museum and Garden website.
Annis’s book, Only for the Eye of a Friend: The Poems of Annis Boudinot Stockton is available on Amazon.
Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone was an organizer for the first Women’s Rights Convention in 1850. She later became the president of the New Jersey Suffrage Association.
Emily Warren Roebling
When Washington Roebling was sick Emily Roebling helped her spouse by taking over the supervision of his work to finish building the Brooklyn Bridge. That bridge was eventually completed in 1883.
Arabella W. Barlow
Arabella W. Barlow was a nurse in the Civil War. When her husband was wounded she went through the battlefield in 1863 to reach him. She was able to nurse him and others back to health.
Elisabeth Homes Moore
Bessie was the first tennis player who won the United States Women’s Singles lawn-tennis championship four different times. In 1971, she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Virtual Resources to Learn about Women’s History in New Jersey
New Jersey Womens History
This website is a useful tool to review women relevant to New Jersey’s history. There are bite-size biographies that may then inspire kids to read more into the history of these impressive women. It has some resources for teachers as well.
Women’s Heritage Trail in New Jersey
This site talks about the Women’s Heritage Trail in New Jersey. A pdf map is available for download. There are sites throughout New Jersey listed by county for people to visit and learn about women’s heritage in the garden state.
Women’s History Month.gov
This website is a great resource. It offers virtual events, discussions, exhibits, and more to really delve into women’s history while reading accurate information. This website also offers a section of teacher resources.
Books about Significant NJ Women and Women’s History in New Jersey
Jersey Family Fun is a participant in the Amazon Affiliates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Some links listed below in this post are affiliate links. They do not add any additional costs to the purchase price.
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World
Author: Vashti Harrison
Best for ages 5 to 7
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World is thoroughly researched and has lots of facts about many women I had never heard about. It is great that this is for kids of a younger age since I often feel that those books do not have enough accurate or detailed information.
I also appreciate that many of the women discussed, in Little Dreamers, were from various countries and of different ethnicities than I have seen in many other books. Each woman in the book is given a page to discuss their achievements and there are other resources the author used listed at the end if people want to continue to learn more about them.
Three of the women in Little Dreamers had lived in New Jersey including Bessie Blount Griffin, the physical therapist and forensic scientist. There was also Vera Rubin the only astronomy graduate from Vassar in 1948 and Cindy Sherman the photographer. To learn about these women and countless others get your hands on a copy of the book.
Bold Women in Science: 15 Women in History You Should Know (Biographies for Kids)
Author: Danni Washington
Best for ages 8 to 12
Bold Women in Science is a great book with short biographies about different women that kids may not have learned about already. Three of the women discussed in the book had lived in New Jersey.
Virginia Apgar is the person who developed the Apgar score that is used by healthcare professionals to assess the health of a newborn as soon as they are born and the first five minutes afterward. It helps them determine if any urgent interventions may be needed with a newborn and it has saved countless lives.
Vera Rubin is an astronomer who discovered that the rotation of galaxies did not match predictions, further leading to the discovery of dark matter.
Sylvia Earle was the first woman to be the chief scientist for NOAA. To learn more about these women and others as well, definitely pick up a copy of this book.
Who Was Clara Barton?
Author: Stephanie Spinner
Best for ages 8 to 12
Who Was Clara Barton? is very inspirational since it shows how Clara Barton worked tirelessly to help others in many ways. It talks about her struggles such as opening a school in Bordentown, nursing on the frontlines, and founding the American Red Cross.
Great, child friendly yet very factual biography about Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross and founder of the first free public school in NJ, in Bordentown. The “Who Was” series is a great way to get children interested and introduced to reading biographies.
Betsy Brook, Little Beauties Home
Who Was Clara Barton? delves into how the unfair practices at the times often hindered her work such as her having to petition to even be allowed to help soldiers or how she was not made president of the school she had opened. Many of the things she did had positive influences that can still be seen today.
More Children’s Books about important women from New Jersey
These children’s books have been recommended to us by others. They all feature women from New Jersey that have been significant in women’s history, rights, and achievements.
Playing to Win: How Althea Gibson Broke Barriers and Changed Tennis
Recommended by Sara at Holiday House.
With determination and undeniable skill, Althea Gibson became a barrier-breaking, record-setting, and world-famous sportswoman. The new and updated edition of this inspirational biography contains recent information on the impact of Gibson’s legacy.
Books written by Female authors from New Jersey
Children’s Books written by Female authors from New Jersey
Goodnight Princeton
Author: Mimi Omiecinski
Goodnight Princeton is a children’s book that people of all ages will enjoy and it is great for bedtime due to the soothing cadence of its words. I personally enjoyed it since I have grown up frequenting Princeton.
Goodnight Princeton conjured up memories of taking my kids to Marquand Park for playdates in the sandpit, baby times and papers researched at the Princeton Library, meeting up with high school friends at Small World Coffee, eating coffee chip ice cream at Halo Pub until it closes and singing with the Princeton Girlchoir on campus. I liked the fact that there were places mentioned that were not as well known.
Goodnight Princeton makes a great guide for families looking to travel to Princeton who have never been before. This is no surprise since the author is also the owner of the Princeton Tour Company. I appreciated the small details such as the black squirrels frequenting the book which are rarely seen in places other than Princeton, the cherry blossoms near the campus, and Einstein riding the Dinky with the pi sign on his shirt in reference to Pi Day.
Young Adult Books written by Female authors from New Jersey
Torn
Author: Christine Hughes
Torn is a book that will interest readers who like fantasy. This book is about Fallen and Exiled Angels as well as the protagonist’s journey to discover more about herself and where she falls in their world. It is fast-paced and there are a couple of plot twists that keep the story interesting.
Torn helps the reader contemplate how the world is not always strictly good or evil and how balance may be necessary. The book also shows how many of the events in our lives can shape us into the people we become. Some events can be out of our control as well so it is good to give others more than one chance to be the best person that they can be.
Torn is the first book in a series but the end comes to a satisfying enough close that it can be read as a standalone.