Cathy Bonner
History Lesson
In honor of Women’s History Month, The Women’s Museum: Institute for the Future shared a timeline of some of its favorite historical facts.
In 1819, The Bank of Savings in the City of New York is the first place where women can open their own savings account.
In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell is the first woman to graduate from medical school.
Attorney Belva Lockwood of Iowa, the first female lawyer in America, secures legislation on granting equal pay to women federal employees in 1872.
Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women register to vote as a way to test the 14th and 15th Amendments and are sent to jail in 1872. The 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote 48 years later in 1920.
Women officially admitted to the military in 1917 when the Navy enrolls 12,500 women and the Marines bring in 300; mostly for clerical work.
Throughout his presidency, Franklin Delano Roosevelt surrounds himself with a team of savvy females, including Francis Perkins, the Secretary of Labor and the first woman to ever hold a cabinet post. Other women breaking ground in government at that time: Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights leader and advisor to FDR; Stella Akin, special assistant to the attorney general; and Nellie Taylor Ross, who FDR appointed the first female director of the U.S. Mint.
In 1969, San Diego State College makes the study of women a legitimate discipline when it offers five courses in Women’s Studies.
Diane Crump is the first woman jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 1970.
In 1981, while only a 21-year-old Yale University student, artist Maya Lin beat out 1400 applicants to design the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C.
Over two million girls play high school sports, in 1999, compared to 300,000 when Title IX was passed in 1972 banning sexual discrimination in educational institutions and programs.
History In the Making
March 2010
Just like in the movies, Cathy Bonner’s future came to her in a dream. “I kept having a recurring dream that around the time of the new millennium I would build a renowned place where people could come and learn about American women’s history.” Cathy considered this incessant vision a call-to-action, and when research revealed that not one of the 8000 museums in the entire country was solely dedicated to women’s history, she immediately went to work.
As the former president of the Foundation for Women’s Resources, a non-profit organization that informs the public about women’s history, this philanthropist has always had a passion for educating women about their past. Although her endeavor to build a museum was a huge undertaking, Bonner remembered the advice of her friend, mentor, and fellow foundation member, former Texas Governor Ann Richards. “Ann would always tell me, ‘unless something is illegal or is going to harm you or other people, the answer to the question: should you do something, is always yes!” This gutsy philosophy squashed any doubt and kept Cathy on track.
Determined to make her 2000 deadline, Cathy had only three years to raise money, renovate an historic art-deco building, hire a staff, and develop and install exhibits showcasing women throughout the ages. With help from the members of her foundation and the city of Dallas, she was miraculously able to generate 32 million dollars within the first year. “When we started the project, we didn’t know if we’d be able to raise the money. We just powered through on blind faith, but it all came together thanks to an amazing network of women all over the country who helped make it a reality.”
In October of 2000, right on schedule, The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future had its grand opening gala. Cathy was the first person to open the doors and introduce the world to such exhibits as “Funny Women”, which featured a video installment of female comediennes and “Unforgettable Women,” a round-up of intriguing artifacts like Amelia Earhart’s leather flight gear and Mary K. Ash’s famous pink business suit. The museum also boasts an institute that educates young women and nurtures future leaders. “The mission of the museum is to honor the past and shape the future. We want to tell the inspirational stories of American woman throughout history, and at the same time, we want to engage the next generation.”
This year, Bonner not only celebrates the 10th anniversary of the museum and the 100th anniversary of the building it is housed in, but she also celebrates her accomplishments as an agent of hope. In 2007, after Ann Richard’s lost her battle with cancer, Cathy teamed up with Lance Armstrong to lobby the state of Texas for three billion dollars to fund a new cancer prevention and research institute. “It was a risky deal. We had to tell our story to legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate. People thought we’d never get it done, but in 2008, we saw the start of this new institute. States have never passed funds for anything like that before.”
As a pioneer for two groundbreaking establishments, this dynamic Texan of the Year finalist is proud to help the causes of other women. “I’m a big believer in if you see something wrong or something needed, just find out a way to do it. I have always spent my time trying to improve women’s lives as much as possible. I think that no matter what you are doing, there is probably always a higher cause or effort, and I challenge women to see higher and feel deeper to get things done.”