In 1938, Margaret Cuthbert, pioneer radio woman and head of the women's division at NBC Radio, pitched the idea that the Women's Archives could sponsor radio programs about women in history. Beard agreed to collaborate on the project believing it would bring more knowledge about women's diverse contributions to history, as long as the credits recognized the involvement of the Women's Archives. The two programs developed, Women in the Making of America and Gallant American Women ran weekly throughout 1939 and 1940. Journalist Eva vom Baur Hansl, a member of the Women's Archives and writer for such newspapers as The New York Times and New-York Tribune, developed the plotlines and then sent drafts to Beard and scriptwriter Jane Ashman for development. The team also consulted with J. Morrice Jones and Irve Tunick from the Office of Education and others like suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt; Eleanor Flexner, a woman's historian; and Eugenie Leonard, prior dean of women at Syracuse University.
