Boulder County Recognizes Women’s History Month

• March is Women's History Month in Boulder County and March 8 is International Women's Day.
• Online resources are available to learn about women's history and the right to vote in elections.
• To receive this information in another language, please contact Gloria Handyside 303-441-1622 ghandyside@bouldercounty.gov.

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Commissioners have proclaimed March as Women’s History Month in Boulder County. Residents are urged to actively raise their awareness of the historical contributions of women and the ongoing efforts to achieve gender equality.

Online Resources

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum website include articles and online exhibits focusing on women in history, the arts, and sciences. Or visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov for other online exhibits and collections.

To find out about the historical contributions of former Boulder County Clerk & Recorder Clela Rorex, who issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in the United States in 1975, read her obituary from Rocky Mountain Equality and watch the county’s video about Clela’s and then Clerk Hillary Hall’s contributions to the efforts for marriage equality.

Free Entry to the Center for Colorado Women's History

On March 8 (today), in honor of International Women’s Day, adult entry is free to the Center for Colorado Women’s History in Denver. Register on their website. Entry is free for children every day at all History Colorado museums.

Later in the year, the 2025 Women’s History Symposium, titled “We Can Vote, Now What?”, will gather scholars, researchers, and those who wish to explore the history of post-suffrage in Colorado. Through examples of individual women, social movements, and political events, the symposium will consider the result of women’s ability to vote in Colorado, post-suffrage, 1877 to 1970. Visit the Center for Colorado Women’s History website for details.

Celebrating Women's Suffrage

Suffrage: noun “the right to vote in political elections”

After generations of struggle for suffrage, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1919 and ratified in August 1920. Although the 19th Amendment declared that the right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of sex, it did not guarantee voting access to all women. Citizenship laws, poll taxes, threats, and violence barred Black, Latina, Native American, Asian American, immigrant, and poor women. Many Black women could not vote unimpeded until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965—long after the 19th Amendment went into effect. Work continues to protect access to the vote.

To find out more about the brave women whose efforts resulted in voting rights for women, visit these online resources:

National Archives: The 19th Amendment

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture: "Five African American Suffragists You Should Know"

Colorado’s Legacy of Women’s Suffrage

Suffragettes in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame

Women of Color and the Fight for Women’s Suffrage

Heritage and Identity Months

At the beginning of February, the Boulder County Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to awareness and heritage months. The commissioners emphasized that Boulder County will continue to celebrate the contributions of the diverse groups that make our county strong, successful, and resilient – while acknowledging that the history of these groups is American history and includes both successes and tragedies.

As outlined in the commissioners’ Proclamation Recognizing 2025 Heritage and Identity Months in Boulder County, heritage months recognize and celebrate the contributions of underrepresented groups, and help people understand their own identities. They enable us to honor the achievements and contributions of groups whose histories are often absent from traditional narratives of U.S. history or misrepresented altogether.

Heritage and identity-based months teach people about the histories and cultures of different groups, help people understand their own cultures and identities, encourage people to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Boulder County, Colorado, and the United States, and prompt people to reflect on past struggles and successes.

• Contact the Board of County Commissioners
• View the Commissioners' Meeting Documents and Records
• Visit the County Commissioners' webpage

Americans with Disabilities Act Notice

Special Assistance
Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email the ADA Coordinator, or call 303-441-1386. Submit your request as early as possible, and no later than two business days before the event. Boulder County's ADA Policy