Women peacemakers born today

• 1857 Léonie La Fontaine born Brussels, Belgium (d. 1949). Belgian feminist; pacifist; co-founder of WILPF.

• 1885 Ruth Bryan Owen Rohde born Jacksonville, IL (d. 1954). First female American ambassador, posted to Denmark, 1933; delegate to UN founding San Francisco, 1945; UN representative, 1949; twice US Representative; First woman on US House Foreign Affairs Committee; influential speaker on peace and UN; plan of world government, 1942. Served in Jane Addams's Hull House; administered relief in Belgium; served as nurse in World War I; promoted women as "Mothers of Humanity."

• 1906 Wilhelmina "Willa" Taggart born OR (d. 2000). Maintained 40-year-long weekly vigil against Titan missles, Chico, CA, 1960-2000; arrested for chaining self to IRS office in protest of Central America war, 1984; lifelong member of FOR.

• 1910 Peg McIntire (née Dallet) born New York (d. 2008). Grandmothers for Peace activist; opposed Iraq War, School of Americas; arrested over 12 times for nonviolent protests; jailed 30 days for protest against Cassini rocket at the age of 89.

• 1920 Casey Davis (née Kay Carpenter). Peace activist, Houston, TX.

Women's peacemaking on this day

• 1915 Louise-Aimée Saumoneau imprisoned in Paris for opposing war.

• 1924 Helena Swanwick gave first official speech on international politics in Geneva Protocol.

• 1935 Virginia Woolf started "Three Guineas" after Brighton Labour conference.

• 1960 Wilhelmina Taggart began 50-year vigil against Titan missiles on her birthday, Chico, CA.

• 1977 All-Ireland women's liberation conference.

• 1990 Elizabeth McAllister arrested for painting White House sidewalk with Pope's words "No More War Never Again."

• 1992 Lynne Guenther sentenced to 5 years probation for protest at UN.

• 2002 Code Pink founded, opposing Iraq War.

• 2007 Sonia Gandhi spoke to UN on nonviolence.