PROPOSAL TYPE
Roundtable
SEEKING
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Specific Expertise
RELATED TOPICS
- Advocacy
- Labor and Organizing
- Social Justice
ABSTRACT
Women have historically been silenced in their efforts creating equality. A specific group of working class women fell victim to corporate greed and corruption and decided enough was enough. The, now dubbed Radium Girls, experienced horrors while working in the radium factories. Many women did not feel like were able to leave due to unmatched wages, but knew they deserved basic safety measures. Similarly to the Triangle Shirt Fire, it wasn’t until the workers died, left with deformities or horrific health issues, did people stop and listen to the women’s cries and demand change. The brave women did not give up as they fought for equality, the rights of workers and industrial health.
DESCRIPTION
My goal for the round table is to speak about the influences of women in national change. I want to remind people of the importance of providing an inclusive history. With today’s political climate, we are viewing in real time, history being rewritten and groups are, again, being pushed out. It’s important to continue to educate and speak about the groups who have been dismissed so that the history of our country is accurate and relatable to the community. My hope is bringing together one or two other historians to deepen the discussion of women’s efforts for change. The Radium Girls provide a warning of what can happen if we do not learn from the past and people may need that reminder. I am a recent MA graduate and would like to have panelists who give more insight and provide viewpoints that deepen the conversation.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly:
Heather DeSilva, Recent MA Graduate from EWU, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be sent by November 15, 2025. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Hi Heather,
It sounds like our presentations might work well together. Check out my topic proposal and let me know what you think!
Erin Scott
Another potential collaborator for this topic could be this session proposal: https://ncph.org/phc/2026-topic-proposals/she-spies-the-importance-of-female-espionage/
The over arching theme of your session could be something along the lines of women in dangerous spaces
I would be interested in this in terms of speaking about Indigenous women and how they moved within the American Indian Movement and the Standing Rock protests
Hi Heather,
As part of the Women’s Affinity Group through AASLH, we have been discussing this, and I would be happy to represent the National First Ladies Library & Museum to share how our nation’s First Ladies have been advocates and catalysts for change, especially some of our lesser known First Ladies who advocated for the settlement housing movement, for inclusivity at the White House, and early suffrage supporters.
Hi Heather,
I plan to attend the conference and can speak about the women of the West and their pivotal role in the passage of the 19th Amendment and in major labor reform efforts at the turn of hte last century.
Hi Stephanie,
I would absolutely love to have you on the panel. Let’s discuss this further, please email me at your earliest convenience.
Hi Andrea!
Can you please email me at [email protected]?