Against the odds, paleontologist Mary Anning (1799-1847) became a pioneering fossil collector, dealer, and self-taught paleontologist. She persevered despite encountering significant barriers as a woman in science. She learned to hunt for fossils along the Jurassic Coast from her father. This poor and uneducated girl became recognized as one of the ten most notable women scientists in history. In 1811, at twelve, she and her brother discovered the skull of an ichthyosaur, a m

Nancy Wake (1912-2010) ran away from home to be a nurse at 16, showing her fierce independence. Her daring also made her one of the most decorated heroines of WWII.

German troops crossed into Austria without resistance on the evening of March 11 after Hitler demanded that Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg resign. On March 12, German forces entered Vienna to cheering crowds, with Austrians greeting Hitler enthusiastically. They annexed Austria on the 13th.

James McCune Smith (1813–1865) shattered 19th-century racial barriers as a physician, abolitionist, educator, and intellectual.

Elizabeth A. Niles (1842-1920) served alongside her husband, Miles, in the Union Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1864. She served the entire time without being discovered.

From 1935 through the end of 1936, Hitler intensified control of the population, militarization, and persecution.

Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), a child prodigy, discovered astounding theories in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and engineering. After over 200 years, they continue to shape modern science and technology, affecting our day-to-day lives. 

Mary Donoho (1807–1880), along with her husband William and their nine-month-old daughter, traveled from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1833. She became the first American woman to complete the 900 mile trip in a covered wagon.

A massive effort to consolidate Nazi power occurred in 1934 under the guise of being lawful. By August 1934, Germany was a one-party state, and Hitler became both the Führer and Reich Chancellor.

Once a princess, Rahjumari Amrit Kaur (1887–1964) became a devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi. She joined the Indian National Congress and became a fighter for Indian independence, women’s rights, and healthcare.

Hitler’s blitzkrieg of political moves held Germany in a stranglehold by the end of 1933. By the end of July, the Nazi Party was the only party. The Weimar Republic was no more.

Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807) was a Swiss child prodigy in both singing and painting. Both parents played a significant role in Angelica’s early development.

Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the only female U.S. Senator, confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy over his Red Scare on June 1, 1950.