Women's History Trading Cards in the Library

Women's History Trading Cards (Stephanie Kwolek, Joy Harjo, Ana Castillo)

To celebrate women who have changed the world, the TCC Library created a collection of Women's History Trading Cards. Each trading card has a photo of the woman with a brief biographical sketch of her life and achievements.

The photo of three cards from the Women's History Trading Cards collection show Stephanie Kwolek, Joy Harjo and Ana Castillo.

Who are these women in the photo? According to articles in Gale Biography in Context , a database with encyclopedia, dictionary, and journal articles, located on the Reference webpage on the Library's website, describes the women's achievements:

Stephanie Kwolek
Kwolek, a chemist, is primarily recognized for her discovery of  "liquid crystalline solutions of synthetic aromatic polyamides" which combined with fibers resulted in a commercial fabric known as Kevlar, the strong lightweight fabric used in protection vests by the law enforcement, oven mitts, tires, airplane parts and mattresses. Among Kwolek's many honors, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.

Joy Harjo
A native of Tulsa with Muscogee Creek heritage, Harjo is a writer, artist, and musician. She has received the William Carlos Williams Award for her poetry.  Harjo's works include themes of storytelling, connection to the land, spirituality, and female individuality. In the 1990s, Harjo formed the band Poetic Justice in which she plays the saxophone. She has also produced several solo works which has received numerous awards. The latest solo album, This America, was released in 2011.

Ana Castillo
Castillo, who describes herself a "Chicana protest poet", was born in Chicago and has published poems, novels, and essays.Her work explores issues in multiculturalism and feminism from the position of a Chicana feminist. She received the Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Carl Sandburg Literary Award, and the Gustave Myers Award among others for her literary work.

Stop by your nearest TCC campus library, and see the collection of the Women's History Trading Cards and pick your favorites to take home.