Author Archives: lhsittig@verizon.net

Mary Musgrove: Peace Negotiator by Linda Harris Sittig

Back in the early 1700s when America was still a group of loosely knit colonies, England, France, and Spain all vied for control over the New World. In order to claim the virgin territory for their native countries, enterprising men … Continue reading

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Mary Fields: Frontier Pioneer by Linda Harris Sittig

Mary Fields may just be the strongest of the Strong Women I have researched. Literally. Even from her early years, she did the unexpected. Born into slavery sometime in 1832 on a plantation in Hickman County, Tennessee, she became friends … Continue reading

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Dorothy Height: Carrying on the Dream by Linda Harris Sittig

If you look at the 1963 press photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., you might notice a woman standing off to … Continue reading

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Ruth Pfau: Humanitarian by Linda Harris Sittig

My first introduction to leprosy was from the movie, The Hawaiians, based on Michener’s epic novel. In particular, I remember when the Chinese character, Mun Ki, was sent for lifelong exile to the leper colony on Molokai; and his wife … Continue reading

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Laura Stockton Starcher and the Ladies of Umatilla by Linda Harris Sittig

It was a calm morning for Election Day, December 5, 1916, in the small Oregon town of Umatilla, population 198. Nestled on the southern bank of the Columbia River, Umatilla was a place where everyone knew everyone else. No one … Continue reading

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Moina Belle Michael: Champion of Veterans: by Linda Harris Sittig

If you’ve ever worn a red paper poppy in support of Memorial Day or Veterans Day, you can thank Moina Belle Michael. Her tireless efforts of bringing recognition to the plight of disabled veterans is symbolized with the poppy. Born … Continue reading

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Mary Louisa Black: Chronicler of Pioneer Movement by Linda Harris Sittig

As a youngster, I was fascinated by the stories I read of the Oregon Trail. Now, I know those stories were only made possible by the efforts of women like Mary Louisa Black. Mary Louisa kept a meticulous journal of … Continue reading

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Grace Fryer: Workers’ Advocate by Linda Harris Sittig

  I sat in the dentist chair while the technician placed a heavy leaden blanket from my chin to my waist. Then, she walked into another room, and the X-ray machine took pictures of my teeth. Grace Fryer never had … Continue reading

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Laurel Hart Burch: Consummate Artist by Linda Harris Sittig

Life handed Laurel Hart a debilitating disease at birth, and she fought back by making jewelry. Not just any jewelry, but artwork so distinctive that it is still to this day instantly recognizable by the vibrancy of the colors, the … Continue reading

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Amelia Bloomer and Nellie Bly: Early Female Journalists by Linda Harris Sittig

  Read this! No This! That’s Fake News! This is real news!  Hashtag, tweet, retweet, post on social media!  I suspect that both Amelia Bloomer and Nellie Bly are shaking their heads in the journalism-afterlife of how modern news is … Continue reading

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