Meet Victoria Woodhull, one of Ohio’s most remarkable and trailblazing women. Born into poverty with little formal schooling, she rose to become the first woman to address the United States Congress in 1871, the first female stockbroker on Wall Street, a newspaper publisher, an outspoken advocate for women’s rights — and in 1872, the first woman to run for President of the United States, at a time when women couldn’t even vote.

Victoria’s life was bold, controversial, and endlessly fascinating. She campaigned for equal rights for all, an eight-hour workday, minority representation in Congress, universal education, public housing for the poor, and even the creation of an international organization to help prevent war — long before such ideas became mainstream.

She lived life on her own terms, once saying, “I endeavor to make the most of everything.” And she did — from Wall Street to the White House campaign trail, and even riding a motorcycle in her later years!

This is the inspiring and surprising story of the woman once called “the most famous woman in America” — a fearless pioneer who refused to accept the limits of her time.

Kate Luke portrays Victoria in this film which includes interviews with historians on suffrage and women's history.

The documentary premiered in 2024 and the Lorain Historical Society and shown at the National First Ladies Library and Museum and the Ohio History Center along with presentations at other organizations in Ohio. It has been screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival, has been named Best Documentary Short at the Boston Indie Film Festival, was nominated for the Toronto International Women's Film Festival and screened at the Beaver Island Film Festival

Film Comments:

Barb Piscopo; Director — Lorain Historical Society: The film presented by Eden Valley Enterprises on the life of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States, was timely and eerily similar to what we are experiencing 150 years later with the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris. I was fascinated by the reactions of our audience. Many women over the age of 65 who were in the audience expressed their impatience and disgust with the fact that the role of women in the United States has not come very far since that time. Sexism and misogyny are as evident today as they were when Victoria Woodhull ran. Although perhaps less obvious, the efforts of the male patriarchy to keep women in “their place” is very real today.

Michael McConnell wrote: A fascinating look back at a significant historical figure who was decades ahead of her time. From the confines of her prison cell, the Victoria Woodhull documentary shows us the power of an individual fighting against oppression — how her fight was a catalyst that brought significant change and advanced the rights of many while also showcasing the tactics of those in power to limit her voice.

Kyle Huston e-mailed: I was startled by how timely and relevant "Victoria Woodhull, Shattering Glass Ceilings" is: restive youth prodding for change, using provocative language, dress and spectacle to garner attention. For Victoria Woodhull, any publicity was good publicity. All to promote a simple argument: nothing in the constitution says women can’t vote. And so, her fight wasn’t with the law itself but obstinate old men, who would use every inch of the law to attack Victoria on the flimsiest pretext. All this has happened before, all this will happen again, and we can learn much from Woodhull’s example as detailed in this slick, concise film.

For information on Eden Valley's and FilmAffects' project to document Woodhull's life or to arrange for a program about Victoria Woodhull for your group, visit www.victoriawoodhullforpresident.org If you're a presenter and would like information about showing VICTORIA WOODHULL: SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS for your group, let us know. We'll be happy to make arrangements with you.