The American Scottish Foundation salutes all women on International Women’s Day as we globally celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The American Scottish Foundation was co-founded in 1956 by Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton and Lady Natalie Douglas-Hamilton.
As co-founder of the American Scottish Foundation we have much to be grateful to Lady Natalie for in strengthening the bonds between the US and the United Kingdom. Her determination to better the lives of others was exemplary and we honor her incredible dedication.
Natalie organized Bundles for Britain, an incredibly successful project to support the transatlantic war effort involving thousands of men and women involved in clothing drives, packing medicines and fundraising.
In 1946, Natalie was made an honorary Commander of the British Empire for her services in World War II. She was the first non-British woman to be so honored.
Lady Natalie organized and presented the very first Scotland Week held in New York City on November 10-17, 1974.
On this International Women’s Day we would also like to honor the incredible women below, Scottish pioneers who changed the world by following their passions. We are inspired by their excellence and their dedication to make the world a better place.
Victoria Drummond was the first woman to go to Sea as a Marine Engineer and first woman to become a Member of the Institute of Marine Engineers now the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. She opened doors for other women to follow and is still cited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology together with various women’s organizations as a role model to be followed.
Born in Dundee in 1857, Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming was a Scottish astronomer active in the United States. During her career, she helped develop a common designation system for stars and cataloged thousands of stars and other astronomical phenomena.
Born in Monymusk in 1864, Dame Maria Matilda Gordon DBE LLD, known as May Ogilvie Gordon, was an eminent Scottish geologist, palaeontologist, and politician. She was the first woman to be awarded a Doctor of Science from University of London and the first woman to be awarded a PhD from the University of Munich.
