City: Madison

Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Helen C. White.

Helen C. White

Helen C. White was the first woman to hold a full professorship in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Image description: A headshot of Ramona Villarreal.

Ramona Villarreal

Ramona Villarreal is a Mexican American activist who has devoted her life to fighting for equality and justice for people with Mexican/Latinx heritage in Wisconsin.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Lutie Eugenia Stearns.

Lutie Eugenia Stearns

Lutie Stearns, “the Johnny Appleseed of books,” started free libraries all over Wisconsin and was an outspoken advocate for social justice.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Donna Shalala.

Donna Shalala

Donna Shalala was the first woman to head a Big Ten university and the longest-serving secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sitting with her chin in her right hand.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Nobel Peace Prize winner and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female head of state of any African country.
Image description: A headshot of Pleasant Rowland.

Pleasant Rowland

Pleasant Rowland founded the American Girls Collection, a popular line of books, dolls, and accessories that features girls living throughout U.S. history.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Mabel Watson Raimey.

Mabel Watson Raimey

Mabel Raimey was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, attend Marquette University Law School, and practice law in Wisconsin.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Kathryn Morrison in front of Madison’s Capitol building.

Kathryn Morrison

Kathryn "Kate" Morrison was the first woman elected to the Wisconsin State Senate.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Katherine Lyall.

Katharine Lyall

Katharine Lyall was the first woman president of the University of Wisconsin System.
Image description: A headshot of Patty Loew.

Patricia “Patty” Loew

Patricia "Patty" Loew is a celebrated journalist, filmmaker, and educator about Native Americans in Wisconsin.