In the mid-1960s, University of Arizona art professor Barbara Rogers, who was making a name for herself as a painter in the San Francisco Bay area, served on an arts jury committee to award a major prize to an emerging artist.
After hours of vigorous debate, the committee selected a female artist, at the urging of Rogers, the lone woman in the group. It was the first time the award, created by a female benefactor, had not gone to a man.
For her contribution, Rogers' name is cited in a new book chronicling the roles and work that fueled America's feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, a struggle for equal recognition and employment parity.
Not only is Rogers included in the voluminous directory, "Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975," but 18 other Tucson area women and men are recognized for their roles in making positive history.
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"I think we're seed pods," said Rogers, an accomplished visual artist, who uses nature in her work as a metaphor to explore "life's cycles and chaos."
In using seed pods as a metaphor for feminism, Rogers sees women and men as durable individuals on the outside who plant their inner ideas and dreams among us.
The book's editor, Barbara Love, said the project, 10 years in the making, is a reminder of the struggle of pioneering feminists, many of whom would have gone unrecognized.
The book names more than 2,000 women and men on the criteria their work made a positive difference in women's lives.
Love said she included many people who were not first in anything but helped other women become first in their endeavors.
Like Rogers, who refused to back down on her recommendation that the arts award be given to a deserving female artist.
In addition to Rogers, the other Tucson-area residents in the 616-page book include:
• Susan H. Aiken, UA professor of English and writer on feminism and feminism scholarship.
• Peg Anderson, a leading feminist and political activist in her native Iowa and champion of women Episcopalian priests.
• Anne Bowen, member of The Deadly Nightshade, first all-woman band signed by a major label.
• Myra Dinnerstein, UA professor emerita and former director of the UA's Women Studies Program and advocate of gender pay and tenure equity.
• Claudia Ellquist, a retired lawyer and former board member of the National Organization for Women.
• Casey Hayden, civil-rights activist turned feminist, author of the mid-1960s seminal feminist tract, "A Kind of Memo."
• Dr. Marilyn Heins, Arizona Daily Star parenting columnist and advocate for women in medicine and medical colleges.
• Del Jones, civil-rights advocate and co-founder of Cleveland's rape crisis center.
• Beatrice Ann Parks Kabler, a Wisconsin nurse who spearheaded family planning programs and legislation.
• Elizabeth L. Kennedy, UA Women's Studies professor, pioneering lesbian author and founder of the women's studies program at State University New York Buffalo.
• Annette Kolodny, feminist literary critic and author.
• Susan H. Koppelman, author and activist for women's rights and disability issues.
• Nancy Mairs, author who has taught at Salpointe Catholic High School and UA.
• Joanna Russ, writer of lesbian and science fiction works.
• Sheila Tobias, education consultant, author and activist.
• June L. Webb-Vignery, author of Tucson's affirmative action program and national women-in-management programs.
• Tim Wernette, gender equity expert and leader in anti-sexist men's organizations.
• zana, feminist and lesbian writer.
They've led the way for others to follow.
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