German poster for International Women’s Day, March 8, 1914. This poster was banned in Germany. (Wikipedia)

Greetings from GIS & You on International Women’s Day 2018. 

The following history is from Wikipedia.

The earliest Women’s Day observance, called “National Woman’s Day,” was held on February 28, 1909 in New York. Though there have been claims that the day was commemorating a protest by women garment workers in New York on March 8, 1857, researchers have described this as a myth. Although there were some women-led strikes, marches, and other protests in the years leading up to 1914, none of them happened on March 8.

In 1914 International Women’s Day was held on March 8, possibly because that day was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 in all countries. On March 8, 1917, on the Gregorian calendar, in the capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd, women textile workers began a demonstration, covering the whole city. This marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution.

This Geospatial World article suggests 5 women pioneers of the geospatial industry. 

Here are some other women I would nominate as GIS pioneers and leaders…

First, some past URISA Presidents

• Dorothy Bomberger, 1978-1979.
• Nancy Tosta, 1999-2000 and URISA GIS Hall of Fame winner.
• Lyna Wiggins, 2000-2001 and URISA Leadership and Horwood Distinguished Service award winner.
• Rebecca Somers, 2015-2016 and GIS management author and developer of the GISCI GISP Exam.

Others with URISA Connections

• Shoreh Elhami, who founded URISA’s GISCorps in 2001. She encouraged me to run for the URISA Board of directors.
• Valrie Grant, who made URISA’s Caribbean Chapter happen and who promotes GIS with her own successful GIS company in Jamaica.
• Wendy Nelson, URISA’s long-serving and dedicated Executive Director.

Here are some GIS pioneers and leaders in Washington State

• Linda Gerull, Former Pierce County GIS Manager, WAURISA 2004 Summit Award winner, and now City of San Francisco CIO.
• Nancy Hultquist, Central Washington University, Geography Department, GIS mentor, and WAURISA 2006 Summit Award winner.
• Joy Paulus, former Washington State GIS Coordinator and WAURISA 2015 Summit Award winner.

Who would you add to this list?

Join and support Women in GIS.