Women's History Month highlights the contributions of women in history and in contemporary society. The month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women's contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, Calif., in 1978.
A few years later in 1980 after the idea spread in communities nationwide, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress passed a resolution a year later establishing it as a national celebration. Six years later, Congress expanded the celebration to the entire month of March, following a successful petition by the National Women's History Project.
Timeline of Women's History Milestones
Girlhood (It's Complicated) - National Museum of History