Video Library
Bring WAMS to life using short animated videos based on inspiring women’s stories and key themes.
Malitzen, Enslaved Interpreter for Hernan Cortés
Learn more about Malitzen, an enslaved indigenous woman who acted as the primary interpreter for Hernan Cortés during his conquest of the Aztec Empire.
Watch (2:58)Catalina Trico, New Netherland’s Founding Mother
Learn about Catalina Trico, one of New Netherland’s first settlers.
Watch (2:17)New Netherland, How Two New Amsterdam Women Prevented a Colonial War
Learn about Lydia de Meyer and Hillegond van Ruyven, two women who opened negotiations with English invaders in 1664 to facilitate the surrender of New Netherland.
Watch (2:17)Thomas(ine) Hall, Gender Non-conforming in Colonial Virginia
Learn more about Thomas(ine) Hall, an intersex person in colonial Virginia whose gender identity became the subject of a court case in their small community.
Watch (2:21)Kateri Tekakwitha: First North American Indigenous Saint
Kateri Tekakwitha's journey from a Mohawk village to Catholic sainthood reflects the intertwined tales of faith and colonization in 17th century America.
Watch (2:36)What is Coverture?
Learn more about the legal principle of coverture, which continues to shape American women’s lives.
Watch (2:38)Fashionable Rebellion, Tignons–From Oppression to Creative Accoutrement
Learn about how free Black women in Spanish Louisiana turned an oppressive law into a celebration of individuality and culture.
Watch (1:58)Lorenda Holmes, Loyalist Spy and American Sufferer
Learn more about Lorenda Holmes, a Loyalist spy in New York who did everything she could to undermine the American war efforts.
Watch (1:51)Toypurina, Rebelling Against the Mission System
Learn about Toypurina, a Tongva wise woman who led a rebellion against a Spanish mission in Alta California.
Watch (2:20)Elizabeth Freeman, Abolition Pioneer
Learn more about Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman whose court case set the legal precedent to abolish slavery in Massachusetts.
Watch (2:46)Tituba: The First Accused Witch
The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most infamous tragedies in American history, yet most people do not know the story of the enslaved woman at the heart of the hysteria, the first accused witch, Tituba.
Watch (2:10)Dolley Madison: The First First Lady
As the host of unrivaled skill, First Lady Dolley Madison brought the US political elite together by throwing the best parties Washington, DC had ever seen.
Watch (2:12)Sally Hemings: Surviving Slavery and Sexual Exploitation
Sally Hemings was an enslaved woman who had several children with Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. Her story of agency and eventual emancipation remains an inspiration.
Watch (2:19)Charity and Sylvia: A Federal Era Love Story
Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant overcame many challenges to become pioneers of LGBTQ+ visibility in the United States.
Credit: Double silhouette of Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant with braided human hair, 1810-1820. Collection of the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, Vermont.
Sacagawea: Intrepid Indigenous Explorer
Native American interpreter Sacagawea was the only woman on Lewis and Clark’s expedition into the West. She played a vital role, but was subsequently forgotten.
Watch (2:21)Harriet R. Gold Boudinot: Interracial Marriage in Early America
The interracial marriage of Harriet R. Gold and Elias Boudinot transcended racial taboos of the 1800s, leaving a lasting impact on both the Cherokee and Cornwall communities.
Watch (2:33)Ona Judge: Self-Emancipated from the Presidential Mansion
Born into slavery on George Washington's plantation, Ona Judge's daring escape highlights the ideological contradictions of personal liberty in early America.
Watch (2:22)Afong Moy: First-recorded Chinese Woman in America
Afong Moy is believed to be the first Chinese woman to step foot on U.S. soil and her presence sparked an American fascination with Chinese culture, but her experience in the United States was far from welcoming.
Watch (2:46)Mary Ann Shadd Cary: Educator, Activist, Editor, Lawyer
The first Black newspaper editor in the history of the United States, Mary Ann Shadd Cary spoke out to champion the cause of freedom in an era when the voices of African Americans were rarely heard.
Watch (2:33)Ernestine Rose: “Queen of the Platform”
A pioneering suffragette and free thinker, Ernestine Rose was way ahead of her time. Described as the “first Jewish feminist”, she used her voice to campaign for women’s rights and improve the lives of millions.
Watch (2:42)Sarah Winnemucca: Resisting White Settlement in Nevada
The first Indigenous woman to publish a memoir, Paiute educator and activist Sarah Winnemucca campaigned tirelessly for the rights of Indigenous Americans.
Watch (2:29)Susan Clark Holley: Breaking Barriers in Education
Facing racial barriers in 19th-century Iowa, Susan Clark Holley’s legal battle pioneered school desegregation, laying early groundwork for the monumental Brown v. Board of Education case.
Watch (2:31)Women's Activism and Social Change
For centuries, women in the United States have used activism to voice their concerns about society and secure their rights as citizens.
Watch (2:29)Sojourner Truth, Fierce Warrior for Social Justice
Learn more about Sojourner Truth, one of the most important social justice activists in American history.
Watch (2:03)Harriet Robinson Scott, A Fight for Emancipation with Ramifications
Learn more about Harriet Robinson Scott, a woman who challenged slavery in the highest court in the United States.
Watch (2:17)Elizabeth Blackwell: American Medical Pioneer
The first woman to graduate from a U.S. medical college, Elizabeth Blackwell broke through gender barriers to make history. Her remarkable story of courage and perseverance serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
Watch (2:17)Letitia Carson: A Free Black Woman in the Antebellum West
In the mid-19th century, only around 3% of those who traveled West on the Oregon Trail were Black. Among them was Letitia Carson, the only Black woman in Oregon to successfully receive land through the Homestead Act.
Watch (2:18)Matilda Hughes: Building a Life During Reconstruction
Enduring slavery and loss, Matilda Hughes's relentless quest to reunite and rebuild her family showcases the indomitable spirit of love amidst America's darkest chapters.
Watch (2:25)Lozen: Fearless Apache Warrior
At a time when Apache men and women followed specific gender roles, Lozen defied convention – to become one of the finest warriors in the tribe's history.
Watch (2:22)María Ruiz de Burton: Chicano Activist Writer
Latina author María Ruiz de Burton raised the plight of Mexicans in America with two satirical and revealing books at a time when female authors were few and far between.
Watch (2:31)Polly Bemis: Chinese Immigrant Pioneer
Sold into slavery by her parents, Polly Bemis faced discrimination as a Chinese immigant in America – but became something of a pioneer of the West.
Watch (2:26)Changunak Antisarlook: The Reindeer Queen
She was known as the Reindeer Queen – and one of the richest women in Alaska. So how did Changunak Antisarlook use her remarkable wealth to benefit the Inupiat community?
Watch (2:32)Victoria Woodhull: Fighting for Women's Rights
At a time when women were expected to know their place, activist and businessperson Victoria Woodhull blazed a trail as a fierce advocate for women's suffrage and empowerment.
Watch (2:15)Ida B. Wells, Journalist and Anti-Lynching Activist
Learn more about Ida B. Wells, an anti-lynching crusader who used the power of journalism and statistical evidence to raise awareness about the most extreme horrors of life under Jim Crow.
Watch (2:26)Mary Church Terrell, Championing Suffrage and Civil Rights
Learn more about Mary Church Terrell, a lifelong activist who advocated for suffrage and equal rights on local, national, and international stages.
Watch (2:06)Zitkala-Sa, Advocate for the Rights of Native People
Learn more about Zitkala-Sa, an activist and composer who fought tirelessly for Native American rights and citizenship.
Watch (2:32)Emma Goldman: Radical Activist Anarchist
Emma Goldman, once named the most dangerous woman in America by the FBI, left behind a complicated legacy. But who was this young radical and what did she believe in?
Watch (3:00)Edith Maude Eaton: Fostering Cultural Understanding Through Writing
In a time when Chinese immigrants in America faced discrimination in all walks of life – simply because of their race – author Edith Maude Eaton channeled the power of the pen to help make positive change.
Watch (2:28)Emma Tenayuca, Latina Labor Activist
Learn more about Emma Tenayuca, a labor leader who led a major food-industry strike in her early 1920s and was eventually ostracized for her political beliefs.
Watch (2:57)Chien-Shiung Wu, Physicist and Manhattan Project Contributor
Learn more about Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American physicist who contributed to the development of the atomic bomb and overcame many racial and gender barriers.
Watch (2:29)Anna May Wong: The First Chinese-American Hollywood Star
Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Chinese-American leading lady, broke through racial barriers to change the face of cinema forever.
Watch (2:23)Mary McLeod Bethune: Fighting for Equality in the Classroom and Beyond
Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator activist, recognized that going to school could be a form of activism. Her groundbreaking work helped change America for the better.
Watch (2:09)Pauli Murray: Breaking Barriers of Race and Gender
As a queer Black lawyer, poet and civil rights activist, Pauli Murray understood how our different identities can overlap to create multiple levels of discrimination. Her groundbreaking work in championing equality for all helped change America for the better.
Watch (2:42)Antonia Pantoja, Grassroots Organizer and Activist
Learn about Antonia Pantoja, a grassroots organizer and activist for Puerto Rican rights.
Watch (2:16)Marsha P. Johnson, Transgender Activist
Learn more about Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender activist who participated in the Stonewall Uprising and fought for equal rights.
Watch (2:25)Katherine Johnson: Trailblazing NASA Mathematician
At a time when American space exploration was dominated by men, mathematician Katherine Johnson broke through gender and racial barriers to help change our understanding of the cosmos forever.
Watch (2:28)Dorothy Bolden: Unionizing Domestic Workers
Civil rights activist Dorothy Bolden made it her mission to empower America’s working class. Her activism empowered domestic workers across the nation – and created noticeable change in the workplace for thousands of Black women.
Watch (2:40)Shirley Chisholm: Confronting the Political Machine
As the first Black woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm made history in her lifelong struggle to empower minorities and change the United States.
Watch (2:21)Patsy Mink: Groundbreaking Congresswoman
What do you think of when you picture Title IX? Inequality has plagued America’s youth for generations. Patsy Mink, a then young Japanese-American, vowed to change the system forever.
Watch (2:26)Bella Abzug: Pioneering Feminist Icon
At a time when the U.S. House of Representatives was dominated by men, pioneering feminist Bella Abzug became a law-making force to be reckoned with.
Watch (2:06)Angela Davis: Resisting the System
Despite being on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list, Angela Davis went on to become an international symbol of resistance against social injustice.
Watch (2:31)Wilma Mankiller: Activist and Political Leader
Wilma Mankiller, a Native American activist who became the first female chief of her tribe, dedicated her life to the Cherokee Nation and the expansion of Indigenous rights.
Watch (2:44)Yuri Kochiyama: Activist for Social and Racial Justice
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, thousands of Japanese-Americans were interned on U.S. soil. Determined to right this wrong, Yuri Kochiyama testified to Congress and helped those affected win $20,000 in compensation.
Watch (2:42)Beverly LaHaye: Conservative Activist and Writer
At a time when many women in the United States were campaigning for greater rights, Beverly LaHaye raised her voice for traditional values. An expert activist and founder of Concerned Women for America, today she is admired and reviled in equal measure.
Watch (2:40)Miss Major Griffin-Gracy: The story of an activist who fought for the rights of transgender Americans
Present at the Stonewall Uprising of 1959, pioneering transgender activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy lived through the HIV/AIDS epidemic to fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States and beyond.
Watch (2:43)Check out more videos in Woman Have Always Worked
