American Women's History

More and more, the traditional interpretation of American history is being questioned - and women are demanding a more equitable portrayal of their role in the building of the country. Women have been leaders of the abolitionist and civil rights movements. They have also been instrumental in labor unions and education reform, and important contributors to the arts and sciences. American Women's History chronicles the dynamic role of women in the growth of "the land of the free." With detailed biographies, as well as thematic entries on topics such as dress reform, birth control, and the suffrage movement, this book examines women's contributions to American culture and history. From Abigail Adams' plea to writers of the Constitution to "remember the ladies" to Sojourner Truth's struggle for emancipation, readers will find stories of courage, triumph, strength, disappointment, and dogged perseverance. Nearly 700 entries document women's contributions to science, literature and the arts and provide an important missing element in the traditional teaching of American history. The many women whose work has been overlooked or forgotten are finally remembered and recognized in these pages. Among the women profiled in American Women's History are: Grace Abbott, noted for her tireless work on behalf of children and immigrants; Susan B. Anthony, the dynamic suffragist, who was instrumental in voting reform and who was arrested for casting a vote in the 1872 presidential election; Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from an American medical school; Rosa Parks, who began the Montgomery bus boycott on December 1, 1955, when she refused to relinquish her seat; singer Marian Anderson; and writer Willa Cather. The carefully researched thematic and historical entries distinguish this authoritative guide from other, purely biographical, source books. Organized in an easily accessible A-to-Z format, the book also features 50 black-and-white photographs and historical drawings. From the landing of the Mayflower in 1620 to the present, American Women's History shows how women have shaped American life and culture. This extraordinary volume is "What Every American Should Know" about American women's history and an indispensable reference.