The Woman's Century Club

08/25/2026

Very sad news. The world has lost one of the most generous and talented individuals, Dolly Parton. She requests that those who were inspired by her make a gift in her name to https://imaginationlibrary.com/

Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).

A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.

At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com

08/25/2026

Members of The Woman's Century Club made a day trip to the lovely town of Winslow this past Friday to visit the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. We had a very informative tour led by docent Kim, and learned a lot about the artists whose work is currently exhibited. Seattle artist Carletta Carrington Wilson's artwork in a variety of media is intricate and thought provoking. Highly recommend you see the show while it is still there. The museum is steps away from the ferry terminal and is always free!

08/23/2026

On Monday, Aug 17, the scholarship committee met at the Beacon Hill Library to select one of the applicants to recommend to the Board for our $2,500 scholarship. It was difficult--so many great applications this year. But we made our selection!

08/20/2026

This week in history...

On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting the denial of the right to vote on the basis of s*x. The Library holds the records and library collection of the National Woman’s Party, which was instrumental in getting the legislation passed.

This collection includes hundreds of digitized photographs, showing party members, picket lines and protests. Explore the collection. ⬇️
https://www.loc.gov/collections/women-of-protest/about-this-collection/?loclr=fbloc

Image: Photograph of Alison Turnbull Hopkins with banner, "Mr. President How long must women wait for liberty," picketing for suffrage outside White House gate. January 30, 1917. Photograph published in "The Suffragist."

08/18/2026

Women were definitely an important part of the story of rock and punk music here in the northwest. Check out the story below.

During this week in Washington (August 20, 1991) a group of musicians ignited a Riot Grrrl movement. Twenty all-female punk bands performed over six days at the Capitol Theater in Olympia.

Candice Pedersen and Calvin Johnson, founders of Olympia’s K Records, organized the “Love Rock Revolution Girl-Style Now” -- shortened to “Girl Night.” It launched a new era of feminism meant to counter discrimination in the punk music scene and society as a whole. The extra “Rs,” intended to make a growling sound, underscored the animal-like ferocity of objection to society’s ills.

What started in Olympia soon spread to Washington D.C., and then internationally. Gritty songs from local groups like “Rebel Girl” (Bikini Kill), “Cool Schmool” (Bratmobile), and “Complicated” (Heavens to Betsy) shed light on gender inequality, identity, and female empowerment. Written commentary called “fanzines,” were handed out at the concerts.

The experience of a librarian reflects Riot Girrrl’s impact on a generation of young women. She claimed the experience “provided me with a different way of thinking…” and that she “didn't need to assimilate to somebody else's standards. . . .”

Post written courtesy of David J Jepsen - Historian

Photo of Bratmobile in 1994 by Greg Neate, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

08/16/2026

Check out all the fun and interesting activities at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion. The next one is on Aug. 20th - a talk about the history of the mansion co-sponsored by our friends at Historic Seattle. See below for details.

08/10/2026

On this day in history... August 10, 1890, Fay Fuller, a young teacher from Yelm, was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. Check out the post below for the details. For more info on the female pioneers of alpine climbing in Washington State, visit this excellent page on the Washington Trails Association website: https://www.wta.org/hiking-info/magazine/archive/the-first-ladies

On this day, August 10, 1890 — Twenty-year-old schoolteacher and journalist Fay Fuller became the first known woman to reach the summit of Mount Rainier in Washington, marking a significant milestone in mountaineering history.

Fuller began the ascent from Camp Muir and reached the 14,410-foot summit at about 4:30 p.m. Because the climb took longer than expected, she was forced to spend an unplanned night in the mountain’s summit ice caves.

At a time when specialized clothing for women climbers was virtually nonexistent, Fuller climbed in wool, a heavy flannel bloomer suit and boys’ calfskin boots fitted with metal caulks. She also used charcoal on her face to protect herself from the intense glare of the sun.

Reflecting on reaching the summit, Fuller described it as “a heavenly moment,” saying the scenery and beauty were beyond words.

Fuller later became Tacoma’s first female newspaper reporter and played an important role in the early efforts to establish Mount Rainier National Park. She was also a founding member of the Washington Alpine Club. Fuller died in 1958 at the age of 89.

Photo Source: Visit Rainier

07/28/2026

Preservation action alert! See the post from Washington Trust for Historic Preservation below. Also, watch for more action tips in our August member newsletter.

On Friday, July 17, the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation proposed a sweeping rewrite of the regulations that implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). If implemented, these new rules would dramatically diminish the effectiveness of the NHPA and the curr...

07/27/2026

WCC members had a great outing to Synnøve Lavender Farm in Kent last week. It's a gorgeous site and Heidi Skagen, the owner, gave us a very informative tour. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on site afterwards and Heidi treated us to her homemade lavender lemonade. She's got open days and special events coming up. check her website and Instagram feed for updates.