Women’s History Month begins today, March 1, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women from across the world.

With women outnumbering men in American colleges, this year's theme is aptly titled Women’s Education and Women’s Empowerment.

Through a host of events and exhibits, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Portrait Gallery and other organizations will join in paying tribute to the generations of strong women whose contributions have been invaluable.

Voting rights activist and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, American jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and opera legend Marian Anderson are just a few of the African-American women highlighted in the National Portrait Gallery's Women of Our Time exhibit.

Sojourner Truth, Madame C.J. Walker and Rosa Parks are among others highlighted by the National Council of Negro Women in Illinois. 

Before the 1970s, women’s history was largely unrecognized. In response to the lack of attention, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission started a “Women’s History Week” in 1978 to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8.

Less than 10 years later, in 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March.

Visit the Library of Congress’ Women History Month page for this year's list of notable women highlighted at events and exhibits.

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(Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)