New Hampshire is probably best known for its beautiful scenery. If you look past the sprawling landscapes, however, there’s also a lot of important history here. We have the first-in-the-nation primary election, the first private citizen to venture into space was from New Hampshire, and our state is home to the first mountain climbing train in the country. Out of the people from New Hampshire that have made a mark on history, there’s one writer and activist, in particular, who made progress for women in both the workforce and higher education.

Sarah Josepha Buell Hale was a prolific writer and activist who went on to become the editor of Godey's Lady's Book and Ladies' Magazine in the 19th century.
James Reid Lambdin/Wikimedia Commons
Godey's Lady's Book was published from 1830 to 1878 and became the most widely-circulated publication of its time.
Rijksmuseum via Wikimedia Commons
Hale was born in and grew up in Newport, New Hampshire to open-minded parents who believed that both men and women should receive equal education.
Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

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A plaque at a park in Newport commemorates Hale's lifetime of achievements.
Djmaschek/Wikimedia Commons
Possibly inspired by an actual incident, Hale authored the famous nursery rhyme, Mary Had A Little Lamb in 1830.
Popular Graphic Arts/Wikimedia Commons
As a lifelong activist for women, she helped to found Vassar College to bring the idea of an all-women's college to the public.
Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
Hale was also influential in making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the U.S. She even made her plea in a letter to President Abraham Lincoln.
Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

New Hampshire shares its place with other states for its firsts. The country’s first free public library is Peterborough, Nashua is home to the country’s first integrated baseball team, and you can still visit New Hampshire’s first inland colony in Hollis/Milford.

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