A new exhibit at the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum in downtown Oxford is educating visitors about the lives and accomplishments of Oakland County’s famous women.
From now until May 18, the Mothers, Daughters, and Leaders of Oakland County exhibit is on display, featuring photographs and short biographies of 17 of the county’s most extraordinary women whose deeds improved others lives and helped pave the way for positive social changes.
‘I think the average person in the county doesn’t realize we’ve had some famous women, some very educated ladies,? said Oxford resident Jerry Griffin, historical society president and curator of the 1 N. Washington St. museum. ‘I didn’t realize that we had this many who were this famous.?
Mothers, Daughters, and Leaders of Oakland County is a traveling exhibit on loan from the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.
‘I just thought it would a good thing for our museum to sponsor this,? said Griffin, who discovered the exhibit during a society excursion to the Rochester Hills Museum last summer. ‘They were all booked up until April, so I said pen me in for anything that you’ve got open after that.?
Through the exhibit, visitors can learn about Elizabeth ‘Lisette? Denison Forth (1786-1866), a former slave who, in 1825, purchased four lots in Pontiac from the city’s founder Stephen Mack. In doing so, she became the first black property owner in Pontiac and one of the first black women to own property in the United States.
Then there’s the story of Emma Lazaroff Schaver (1905-2003), a prominent soprano soloist known for her performances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and several opera companies. But her greatest performances were for Holocaust survivors in Germany following World War II.
Women in the medical field ? or young ladies thinking about entering the profession ? will appreciate the story of Bertha Van Hoosen (1863-1952), who served as an obstetrician, gynecologist and surgeon at a time when women doctors were rare.
Her practice was in Chicago, but she often saw patients in Stony Creek Village during summers, weekends and holidays.
Griffin’s favorite of the bunch is the story of Sarah Van Hoosen Jones (1892-1972).
‘I think she was a very brilliant agriculturalist,? he said. ‘She was a very well known philanthropist in Rochester for years.?
Van Hoosen was the first woman in the nation to earn her doctorate in animal genetics and the first woman to be named a Michigan Premier Breeder, an award she won nine times.
She operated her family farm in Stony Creek Village from 1921-1952, producing prize-winning poultry and dairy cattle. Hers was the first dairy farm in Michigan to produce certified and pasteurized milk.
In addition to the 17 local women featured, the exhibit also has a ‘Women Through the Ages? time-line that chronicles women’s historical events at a national and state level from 1770 to 2003 when Democrat Jennifer Granholm took office as Michigan’s first female governor.
Museum visitors will learn about the pivotal roles women played in aviation, medicine, community service, the antislavery movement, politics and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote in 1920.
A ‘Leaders from Our Community? portion allows visitors to add their own nominations to the traveling exhibit.
Griffin said visiting the exhibit would make the perfect field trip for local students. He encouraged Oxford teachers to call the museum and make arrangements.
As always, admission to the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum is free.
‘We’re one of the very few that doesn’t charge,? Griffin noted.
However, donations are always welcome and most appreciated.
The museum is open on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. If he can get the extra staffing, Griffin is attempting to open on Wednesdays, too, from 1-4 p.m., which are normally summer hours.
For more information or to arrange a class, group or private tour, please call (248) 628-8413 or visit the museum on-line at www.northeastoaklandhistoricalsociety.org.

Mothers, Daughters, and Leaders of Oakland County sponsors
Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, the Daimler Chrysler Art Oakland County Art Fund Program, Oakland County Arts & Culture, Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, Outback Steakhouse of Rochester Hills, Classic Printers, WSI, Hank’s Fly Fishing and Barbara A. Markham-Artist.