Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, where the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women conducted a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. Organizers chose the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread, as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year. In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Subsequent presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress designated March as “Women’s History Month,” to recognize, honor and celebrate the achievements of American women.

Sources: National Women’s History Museum and National Women’s History Alliance