For Women's History Month, Framingham Honors Those Past, Present

FRAMINGHAM, MA — In the midst of Women's History Month, Framingham is honoring several local women from past and present who have made a big impact locally and around the world.

On Tuesday night, the Framingham City Council approved a resolution honoring six local women who have been part of Framingham history. Those include Sarah Towne Clayes, who found refuge from the Salem Witch Trials in Framingham; astronaut Christa McAuliffe; inventor Margaret Knight; suffragettes Josephine Collins and Louise Mayo; and poet and author Meta Warrick Fuller.

"This resolution highlights just some of our outstanding women from the past who have left an unforgettable mark on Framingham," At-Large Framingham Councilor and resolution author Janet Leombruno said.

Leombruno's resolution precedes the Framingham State University Women Making History ceremony. The event was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, but will move ahead on Tuesday with an online version featuring the 2020 winners.

The 2020 winners include MetroWest College Planning Collaborative Executive Director Colleen Coffey, The Partnership, Inc. CEO Beverly Edgehill, Voices Against Violence Director Patricia Hohl, Framingham Public Schools Community Resource Development Director Tiffany Lillie, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

Women's History Month runs through the end of March. The history month dates to 1981 when Congress approved it, and the first one was held in March 1982.

Here's the full Framingham City Council resolution: