On March 8, 2023, International Women's Day, we pose the question - who are the Independent Women of Rhode Island history?

With the help of Ten31 Productions, The Womxn Project Education Fund brings the Independent Woman to Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. While there, we share information and inspiration about Rhode Island's historic Independent Women!

History:

In their original plans from 1895, Rhode Island State House architects McKim, Mead and White sketched a female figure atop of the building’s massive dome.

They were likely drawing from traditional images of women portrayed as the figure of Hope. Nineteenth century state officials made it clear that they sought a figure atop the dome that represented Roger Williams, eventually becoming The Independent Man that we see there today.

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Research:

The Life and Work of Christiana Bannister, Hair Doctress and Philanthropist

Rhode Island’s Star Soprano: Sissieretta Jones

Anne Hutchinson Brief life of Harvard's "midwife": 1595-1643

Providence College - The Struggle for Woman Suffrage in Rhode Island

The Newport Historical Society - Women's Rights and History

The Rhode Island Historical Society - Portraits of Women

Newport History - Women and the Legal System in early Rhode Island

Thank you to The Rhode Island Historical Society for sharing resources with us and The Linotype Daily for the donated history prints being handed out at the gallery and in Kennedy Plaza!