Doris Thom, who helped open higher-paying jobs to women in Wisconsin, was the first woman to hold leadership positions in her local labor unions.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female head of state of any African country.

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.

Vel Phillips achieved many firsts, including first woman and first African American to be elected to the statewide office of secretary of state.

At age 16, Caroline Quarlls was the first known person to escape slavery through Wisconsin’s Underground Railroad network.

Barbara Nichols was the first African American president of the Wisconsin Nursing Association and of the American Nursing Association.

Gwen Moore was the first African American from the state of Wisconsin to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Golda Meir was a teacher and organizer in Milwaukee before becoming Israel's first female prime minister in 1969.

Katharine Lyall was the first woman president of the University of Wisconsin System.

Barbara Lawton, forty-third lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, was the first woman to be elected to that position.