September 30

Born in Conneaut, Ohio, Stone began teaching at a time when higher education for women was rare. She played a key role in developing the Ladies’ Department at the University of Michigan, advocating coeducation. Stone co-founded women’s clubs and philanthropic societies to support female students and teachers. She wrote extensively on educational reform and women’s rights, influencing early feminist thought. Through scholarships and endowments, she expanded access to academic and vocational training for women. Her dedication helped lay the foundation for women’s colleges in the American Midwest.

Born in Virginia, Ann Jarvis organized “Mother’s Friendship Day” meetings to promote reconciliation after the Civil War. She advocated for community health and welfare, founding women’s clubs to address public hygiene and sanitation. Jarvis’s efforts influenced her daughter, Anna Jarvis, who formalized the observance of Mother’s Day. Her vision emphasized honoring mothers’ contributions to family and society rather than commercial celebration. Through letters and public addresses, she campaigned tirelessly for a national day of recognition. Though she did not live to see the holiday’s official adoption in 1914, her legacy endures.

Nora Stanton Blatch Barney was born in 1883 in New York City. She became one of the first accredited female civil engineers in the United States after graduating from Cornell University in 1905. Barney worked on architectural and engineering projects while also campaigning for women's suffrage. She served as a high-ranking member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and edited its publication. Despite facing professional barriers, she continued her engineering career and advocated for gender equality in the workplace. Later in life, she opposed the League of Women Voters' lobbying approach and joined the National Woman's Party. Barney died in 1971, remembered for her groundbreaking achievements at the intersection of engineering and activism.

Princess Charlotte Louise Julia of Monaco was born in 1898 as the daughter of Marie Blanc and Prince Louis II. She inherited the title Duchess of Valentinois and played a significant role in preserving the dynastic succession of Monaco. In 1920, she married Count Pierre de Polignac, who took the Grimaldi name and later became Prince of Monaco. Charlotte was known for her charitable work and dedication to Monégasque cultural life. She passed away in 1977, leaving a lasting legacy within the principality's history.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was born in 1922 in Burdwan, India, and trained as a film editor before becoming a director. He crafted enduring classics of Hindi cinema such as 'Anand', 'Guddi', and 'Gol Maal', blending humor with heartfelt humanism. Mukherjee's films often explored middle-class life with warmth, subtlety, and moral insight, earning him both critical and popular acclaim. He collaborated frequently with leading actors like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, creating performances that remain revered. In recognition of his contributions, he received multiple Filmfare Awards and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest cinema honor. Mukherjee's legacy lives on as a pioneer of realist storytelling in Indian film until his passing in 2006.