It’s important for kids to learn about women who did important things in history. Here are 20 famous women in history your kids should know about. We also provide links to biographies for each famous woman so that your kids can learn more, along with free printable coloring pages.

1. Kim Campbell

Kim is known as a ‘Woman of Firsts’. She was the first Prime Minister of Canada. Her journey as a political figure was not at all easy. Kim faced many defeats and brick-walls in her career, especially in gaining a leader role.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Kim Campbell biography page

2. Deborah Sampson

Deborah was a Revolutionary War heroine who dressed as a man and successfully served in the Continental Army for 17 months. Deborah’s long struggle to get the American Revolutionary War pension helped to recognize the efforts of all those who had fought for their country, whether man or woman.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Deborah Sampson biography page

3. Jeanette Rankin

She was elected before women won the right to vote nationally, being the first women to be elected to the United States Congress. At this time the campaign for women’s right to vote was becoming popular with the public.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Jeanette Rankin biography page

4. Susan B. Anthony

Susan fought for women to have the right to vote amongst other issues such as women to have the right to own property. She was arrested for illegally voting in a presidential election, to raise awareness on how unfair it was for women. 

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Susan B. Anthony biography page

5. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to write a book, and published 14 books during her life. She was also the first deaf-blind person to have a bachelor's degree. 

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Helen Keller biography page

6. Joycelyn Bell Burnell

She was the discoverer of radio pulsars alongside her adviser Anthony Hewish, but did not receive credit when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. She is also an advocate for wanting to increase the number of women in professional and academic standings in the fields of physics and astronomy.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Joycelyn Bell Burnell biography page

7. Betsy Ross

Betsy is said to have agreed to make the flag, but also that she suggested a couple of changes, including arranging the stars in a circle and reducing the points on each star to five instead of six. 

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Betsy Ross biography page

8. Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune was an educator, civil rights activist and government official.

She was known as the “First Lady of the Struggle,” because of her dedication to improving the lives of African Americans.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Mary McLeod Bethune biography page

9. Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was an artist from Mexico who was best known for her self-portraits. Her paintings have deep roots in Mexican folk culture, and use lots of vivid colors and symbolism well known for its drama.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Frida Kahlo biography page.

10. Rosa Parks

She worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr in the campaign for equal rights for black African-Americans in the 1950s-60s. Rosa Parks Day is an American holiday celebrated on the 4th February or 1st December in honor of her work as a civil rights leader.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Rosa Parks biography page 

11. Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin created a very important moment in the history of medical science. She discovered the structure of DNA. Rosalind’s scientific work also helped us to see the tiny structures of other things too, such as coal, graphite, and viruses.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Rosalind Franklin biography page 

12. Dame Kathleen Kenyon

Dame Kathleen was a very important British archaeologist. She worked in Britain and in the Middle East. She made many discoveries throughout her career. She also published 28 books about her discoveries so people could read about them.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Dame Kathleen Kenyon biography page

13. Amelia Earhart

During her 2,408-mile flight to become the first person to fly solo across the Pacific, Amelia enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate. In 1928, she was chosen, along with two other men, to make the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Amelia Earhart biography page 

14. Dorothea Bate

Dorothea made science her career, which was extremely unusual at the time. Her job titles were as follows: Palaeontologist, Zoologist & Ornithologist. She also became the first woman scientist to be employed at the Natural History Museum.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Doretha Bate biography page 

15. Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor was a very important person to the African Americans and she worked hard to try to get them the same rights as white people. Eleanor was known as the “First Lady of the World”, she was just as politically driven as her husband Franklin D Roosevelt. 

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Eleanor Roosevelt biography page

16. Caroline Herschel

Caroline was the first woman to discover a comet. She helped discover the planet Uranus, and also discovered nebulae on her own. She was the first woman officially recognized in a scientific position, as well as the first woman to receive honorary membership into Britain’s prestigious Royal Society.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Caroline Herschel biography page 

17. Lucretia Mott

Lucretia Mott was one of the leaders of the movement to grant American women the right to vote, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. She also spoke out against slavery.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Lucretia Mott biography page

18. Maria Mitchell

Maria Mitchell was the first professional female astronomer in the United States. In 1847, by using a telescope, she discovered a comet which as a result became known as the ‘Miss Mitchell’s Comet.’

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Maria Mitchell biography page

19. Marie Curie

Marie Curie discovered two new chemical elements to establish the term ‘radioactivity.’ She discovered that radiology could help to cure cancer. She developed a mobile x-ray machine. And she was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize and the first person to ever be awarded two Nobel Prizes.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Marie Curie biography page

20. Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly was an American journalist whose real name was Elizabeth Jane Cochrane. Nellie also became famous for travelling around the world in 72 days and she set the world record at that time.

Learn more about this famous woman in history at our Nellie Bly biography page