Let the Ripples come under your feet.

In this 1968 photo, Margaret Zierdt, a 1st grade teacher, was the first woman to serve on the Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville MD, Teachers Association Negotiating Team. Two thousand teachers, predominantly women, had been represented by males only on its union team. Her background in high school debate prepared her for this role. In 1973 while studying at U of Hawaii, Margaret became interested in highlighting women's rights, history, struggles and achievements. She was a voice for gender equality in MCPS, and the state of Maryland, and was recognized for her work on gender bias in children's literature. Margaret created a poster of birthdays of women of achievement, which was picked up by the National Women's History Alliance and was a best selling item in the catalogue. She was a board member of NWHA and saved the organization from financial collapse. She did voter registration work through AAUW. She marched in every women's demonstration in Washington D.C., and in the 1980s worked for passage of the ERA. Her women's history library of 650 books and papers were donated to The Alice Paul Institute, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. We were intrigued by her residence in Loveland, home of Jane DeDecker, and her relationship with API and her efforts in registering women to vote - that it was natural to share her estate with the Every Word We Utter project. Carolyn Taylor, daughter

My mother, Barbara Mills. She would dress me up in my finest and take me to the polls with her to help her pull down the levers to vote for Presidents, Senators, Representatives, & Governors. My mother instilled in me to always study about the people that we vote into office and that voting was one of the most important duties we were called upon to do. I think about her and that memory always when I am called upon to vote. Deb Bakel

My mother inspired me to make beautiful things. She was the most resourceful, creative and loving person. I thrive in the shadow of her immense talent. Jane DeDecker

I donated to honor the women who came before us and to inspire my daughters who wil go further than I can even imagine right now.