Silver City, NM- Friday March 20th, WNMU W.A.C. held it’s Women’s Lives and Writing event for Women’s History Month. The event included multiple Western New Mexico University faculty members and professors giving presentations on influential women. Speakers in the presentation were Andrea Jaquez on the Women of Fort Bayard, Manda Jost on Sor Jiana Ines de la Cruz, Barb Ann Matson on Hellen (Hunt) Jackson, Scott Fritz on the feminism of Judith Sargent Murray, Patricia M. Cano on the life and writing of Santa Teresa de Jesus, Sharman Russel on Patty Jo Watson, Jose Herrera on Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Bruce Wilson on Margaret Atwood, Jessica Enriquez on Mary Shelley, Allison Evans on Anna Akhmatova, and Cynthia Ann Bettison on the prehistoric Mimbres Women.
The event started off with the presentation by Miller Library Public service Technician, Andrea Jaquez of the Women of Fort Bayard. In the presentation she talks about the influential women that traveled with their husbands or traveled alone to Fort Bayard. The women are included in Andrea Jaquez’ book the Fort Bayard Story. In her presentation she mentions women such as Josephine Clifford McCrakin who traveled west to Fort Bayard and escaped her abusive husband. Aother women Andrea talked about was Cathay Williams, also known as WIlliam Cathey whom was the first female african american to enlist in the military. Cathay Williams was born a slave. She assisted the military for years and later enlisted and changed her name to William Cathey to fit the identity of a man. When she was stationed at Fort Bayard she contracted small pox and was hospitalized. The post surgeon discovered she was a women and she was discharged from the military. Andrea talks about the multiple influences those women had in America and also close to Silver City.
Professor Manda Jost gave a presentation on Sor Juana Ine`z de la Cruz, a 17th century nun who taught herself how to become a scholar. Her interests were in litterature, science, music, math and much more. She fought for the right to learn. Proffesor Barb Anne Mason presented Hellen Jackson a female writer whom for equal rights of Native Americans. She was the writer of famous play Ramona. Ramona became California’s outdoor play and has recently celebrated it’s 90th anniversary. Hellen Jackson not only had a great influence in California but also a great influence on equal rights. The speakers at the Women’s Lives and Writing event not only gave presentations but also gave examples of their personal lives of how the women influenced them.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,Jose Herrera gave a presentation about Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Herrera said ” My interest in Mary Montago started when I was in High School. I saw her name in one those books where you can look up events that happened on the day you are born. In one of those books I saw a headline about Lady Mary Montago. I did not know who she was at the time so decided to look her up in the encyclopedia. Her influences in the world is on of the reasons I wanted to become a Micro-Biologist.”
After multiple presentations faculty and students enjoyed refreshments for a break. Deborah Heller professor of English and Director of Writing Across the Curriculum said “One of my main motives was to bring the students and Silver City Community together. Also to show the importance of Women’s history month. WAC was the organizing force behind this event.” The presentation’s gave the importance to show the students and community members the importance of also remembering the women that have had influences on history and the world.
