March is National Women’s History Month, a time set aside to recognize and honor the contributions of women across generations.
What began as a local Women’s History Week in California in 1978 soon gained national momentum. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing National Women’s History Week. By 1987, Congress expanded the observance to the entire month of March, officially establishing Women’s History Month.
At the Robert Russa Moton Museum, we honor the women whose courage and conviction have transformed communities — including our own. Here in Farmville, we honor 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns, whose courage sparked a movement that changed the nation — and the many women who have led, taught, organized, governed, and broken barriers so others could rise.
This month, we recognize the women who opened doors, shattered glass ceilings, and built pathways we now walk with purpose.
We invite you to visit the National Historic Landmark Robert Russa Moton Museum and experience the stories that continue to shape our shared history.