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Women’s History Month initially began as Women’s History Week and was a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. Over time other communities started their own Women’s History Week celebrations, and in February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Since 1995, each president has issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

>>PHOTOS: Historical Women

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VIDEO: Oscar winner Viola Davis goes skydiving in Hawaii LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Viola Davis poses in the press room during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez)

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