03/24/2026
Each week this month, we will be spotlighting three amazing women and strongly encourage reading books by them or about them. To help celebrate women’s history month, come in and enjoy 15% off any books by or about the women we spotlight or a book on display in our front window.
Ruth Handler was a pioneering businesswoman who co-founded Mattel and became one of the first female entrepreneurs to build a billion-dollar company in a male-dominated industry. Her creation of the Barbie doll revolutionized children’s toys by giving young girls a doll with adult proportions that allowed them to imagine themselves in diverse careers and roles beyond traditional domestic expectations. Additionally, she invented the nearly-natural breast prosthesis called “Nearly Me”.
Katia Krafft was a pioneering female volcanologist conducting dangerous fieldwork alongside her husband Maurice to document volcanic eruptions worldwide. Her groundbreaking footage and research significantly advanced our understanding of volcanic hazards and helped save countless lives through improved public awareness and safety protocols. Her courage, dedication to science, and tragic death in the line of duty during the 1991 Mount Unzen eruption.
Josephine Butler is known for leading the successful campaign to repeal the Contagious Diseases Acts, which had subjected women to forced medical examinations and violated their civil liberties in Victorian Britain. She was a pioneering advocate for women’s education and suffrage, helping to establish institutions that expanded opportunities for women at a time when they were systematically excluded from public life. Additionally, Butler worked internationally to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable women, founding the International Abolitionist Federation and establishing a global network of women’s rights activists that influenced reform movements across Europe.
