A new documentary about Philly women is in the works
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Going beyond Betsy Ross to tell the tale of important women in Philadelphia
Jamie Stiehm talks about Lucretia Mott.
Don't let that demure bonnet fool you. Lucretia Mott was one kick-ass chick, a Philly sparkplug with a strong voice whose push for abolition of slavery and women's suffrage helped move a nation.
Last night, columnist and Mott biographer Jamie Stiehm, recounted the highlights of the 19th century woman's place in history during a public kickoff event for a new television documentary series called "The Women of Philadelphia. Our Stories. Our Voices. Our Times."
Mott "did things the Quaker way, slowly, but surely, and non-violently," Stiehm said. "Her voice rose like a river" and commanded attention.
Nancy Moses, former executive director of the Atwater Kent Museum, is the visionary behind the series. She said it will examine "women of courage, of conviction and accomplishment," many of whom — unlike Mott — are not well known. Moses said the documentary would be "a Philly first" because "no city has honored women in this way."
The kickoff event, sponsored by the Forum of Executive Women (full disclosure: I'm a member), was held at the PNC Center Hall and attracted about 100 women.
History Making Productions, led by Sam Katz, is hoping to raise about $1.4 million to create five or six documentary episodes, each about 25 minutes long, that the group hopes to air on local television. The project, which has raised about $600,000 so far, is aiming at a 2016 deadline for completion.
Each of the episodes will focus on a theme that not only traces the historic involvement of Philly women but also brings the conversation up to today.
Feedback so far has shown "this project has to be relevant to people today," said Willa Granger, director of communications for History Making Productions.
To find out more, go to the website womenofphilly.com
