This encyclopedia contains the biographies of over 100 women, from Clara Barton to Oprah Winfrey, who come from diverse backgrounds, races, age groups, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and geographic locations. From 1776 to the present, these women have initiated organizations; taken human, physical, and financial risk in these endeavors; and have had an economic impact locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. This, by definition, makes them entrepreneurs, the same as their male counterparts. However, many of the women have been unacknowledged by recorded history. This book, therefore, adds women's entrepreneurial stories to the historical record and provides a resource to researchers and educators in the fields of entrepreneurship, business, management, sociology, economics, and women's studies. It also will be of interest to young women--potential entrepreneurs--seeking role models for their own endeavors in the free enterprise system of the United States.