Women's History: DVDs

This documentary follows the 1972 campaign waged by Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to run for a major party's nomination for United States President. Chisholm first made her mark on American political history when, in 1968, she became the first African-American woman elected to Congress, representing New York.

An account of the former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a great American citizen who overcame personal obstacles and became a beacon of human kindness.

More than 50 years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird remains a beloved best seller and quite possibly the most influential American novel of the 20th century. Mary McDonagh Murphy's Hey, Boo explores the To Kill a Mockingbird phenomenon and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding Harper Lee, including why she never published again. It also brings to light the context and history of the novel's Deep South setting and the social changes it inspired after publication.

Frida Kahlo was more than a great painter; her life and art reflected the maelstrom of the revolution and culture that defined the first half of the twentieth century. This film combines Kahlo's artwork with photos, archival films and interviews.

In 1942, the U.S. military recruited female mathematicians to become human 'computers' for the U.S. Army. From the bombing of Axis Europe to the assaults on Japanese strongholds, women worked around-the-clock six days a week, creating ballistics tables that proved crucial to Allied success. When the first electronic computer (ENIAC) was developed to aid the Army's calculation efforts, six of these women were tapped to become its first programmers.

This documentary looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society's anxieties about strong and healthy women.