Historic women's firsts, Sandra Day O'Connor joined the highest court 30 years ago Historic women's firsts Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in 30 years ago on Sept. 25 as the first female justice on the Supreme Court.History is full of pioneering women who fought for the right to use their talent and intellect in male-dominated fields. Today we look back at other famous women's firsts. Phillis Wheatley Her 1767 historic first? Originally from this area of Africa, Wheatley rose from slavery to become a successful author,opening doors for both black and women writers. It wasn't an easy task; she had to prove her authorship in court and travel to London to get printed, since this bustling American city refused to publish her work. Elizabeth Blackwell Her 1849 historic first? Blackwell was accepted to a New York college as a practical joke, but she went on to become a pioneer in the medical field despite formidable obstacles. Her moving story inspired a 1950s T...