Women's History Commons^™

Women's Work And Wealth: Measuring The Impact Of Incremental Liberations, 1850-1870, Hannah Kelly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Using a two-way fixed effects difference-in-difference model, this project analyzes data from the IPUMS Full Count census for 1850, 1860, and 1870 at a state level for 48 states. Four models assess the impact of property laws on women's real property holdings, labor force participation, household types, and real property values.

By quantifying the impact of various legal reforms on women's economic empowerment, this project fills a gap in the understanding of the intersection between law, society, and women's economic agency during a transformative period in pre-industrial American history. These impacts can implicate the effectiveness of legislative measures in advancing …

Book Review: Organizing Women: Home, Work, And The Institutional Infrastructure Of Print In Twentieth-Century America, Christine Pawley, Madelaine Russell

School of Information Student Research Journal

In carefully selected case studies of white and Black middle-class American women, Pawley, a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Information School, provides a detailed exploration of the “largely untold history” of women who used their involvement in print-centered organizations to reshape their lives beyond the unpaid domestic sphere (1). The first three chapters of the book trace the histories of primarily domestic women who held active roles in institutions of print culture such as journalism and radio broadcasting while the last three focus on the lives of women whose full-time employment helped to shape the developing public library …

Ladies Art Club - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Mss 762), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Collection 762. Minute books of the Ladies Art Club, an African-American women’s club in Bowling Green, Kentucky, whose objectives included social and charitable activities and annual exhibits of sewing work.

Women And Food In World War I Era Arkansas, Emily A. Stolp

ATU Research Symposium

On July 1st, 1917, in the midst of The Great War, Arkansas’s Governor Charles Brough appointed Ida Frauenthal as chairwoman to the state’s new Woman’s Committee of the Council of Defense for Arkansas. The report created by the Woman's Committee allowed the committee to first: organize the results of the efforts of many civil groups and second: immortalize the women’s wartime efforts. Women’s war efforts in this era naturally focused on the home front. The need to conserve food, a national and local concern, occupied much of women’s wartime efforts. Fear mongering and propaganda used to push the food conservation …

Silent Cycles: Unveiling 19th-Century Perspectives On Menstruation, Women's Agency, And Societal Transformations, Anna Bennethum

Campus Research Day

In the 19th century, menstruation was a topic often vieled in silence and misinformation. Nonetheless, it is pivotal in discussions on women's agency and societal shifts. This paper explores 19th-century medical perceptions, the dissemination of reproductive knowledge through women's publications, and a case study of Adventist health publications. Through primary source analysis, this paper reveals how access to medical knowledge empowered women, especially in pursuing higher education. Additionally, examination of Adventist health publications showcases alternative remedies to menstrual disorders, granting women control over their reproductive health. This study illuminates the intersection of menstruation, women's agency, and societal change, emphasizing the …

Hollywoodlandia: Celebrity Women, Movie Culture, And American Public Womanhood, 1916-1950, Skye Cranney

History Theses and Dissertations

This project proposes to study the ways in which celebrity women’s behavior may have encouraged American women to challenge, but not necessarily subvert, traditional gender roles even as Hollywood publicity continued to emphasize the importance of those same roles in women’s lives. It does that by examining three sites where celebrity women prominently lived, worked, played, and volunteered between 1920 and 1950: the Hollywood Studio Club, a boarding house only for women in the entertainment industry, in Los Angeles; the Sun Valley Ski Resort, the first modern ski resort in the American West, in central Idaho; and the Hollywood Canteen, …

Women’S Communities And Landscapes In Deadwood, South Dakota In The 1870s–1880s, Jessica Kaye Long

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research focuses on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Deadwood women from 1875 to 1889. This range represents a defining period in Deadwood’s history stretching from its inception to the arrival of the railroad. Through this research, I seek to better understand the women living in a relatively isolated city during the gold rush. While previous research has focused on the city’s most famous women and sex workers of the Badlands, the lives of average citizens have been neglected. This research does not want to ignore the impacts of famous women or sex workers. Instead, this thesis attempts to …

Borglum’S Horse Flies: The Early Opposition To Mount Rushmore, Riley Merritt

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores the evolution of opposition to Mount Rushmore from 1923-1927—the period before carving began. The resistance was led by a group of preservationists who were concerned about the potential ecological and societal impacts of the project. While much of the existing scholarship has focused on the relationship between the local Indigenous community and the monument, I argue that the preservationists, who opposed the site for their own reasons, deserve similar attention. I aim to reframe the Mount Rushmore controversy within the broader context of the conservation movement, thereby contributing to wider environmental and historical debates. I also emphasize …

Bicycling During The 1890s: The Unlikely Means Of Women’S Social Reform, Rachel Lewchanin

History Student Projects

The paper focuses on the women’s bicycling movement in the US during the 1890s. More specifically, it argues that bicycling and the movement that developed behind it was used by upper and upper-middle class white women to create social changes that furthered their independence from certain societal expectations.

Donna Loring, Interviewed By Mazie Hough And Carol Toner, Donna Loring

MF144 Women in the Military

Donna Loring, interviewed by Mazie Hough and Carol Toner, June 19, 2001, in Augusta, Maine. Loring, age 53, talks about enlisting in the Army in the Vietnam War; her experiences of discrimination as a Native American in Maine; boarding school; taking an aptitude test after enlisting; basic training; her role as a member of the Signal Corps; the dangers of the job; rising through the ranks; the detachment of the Women’s Army Corps from the rest of the Army; women soldiers and weapons; leaving the base against orders; racism in the military; diversity within the W.A.C.; the psychological effects; leisure …

Donna Loring, Interviewed By Mazie Hough And Carol Toner, Part 1, Donna Loring

MF144 Women in the Military

Donna Loring, interviewed by Mazie Hough and Carol Toner, June 19, 2001, at the CATS Library in Augusta, Maine. Donna talks about enlisting in 1966; training in California and going to Vietnam; serving in the Military Occupational Specialty Signals Corps and as a soldier of the Women’s Army Corps. Text: 9 pp. transcript. Time: 01:20:59. Restrictions: None. Approval to release provided by James Francis of the Penobscot Historic Preservation Committee, 2024-02-23.

Listen

Part 1 mfc_na3207_c2308_01
Part 2 mfc_na3207_c2308_02

Donna Loring, Interviewed By Mazie Hough And Carol Toner, Part 2, Donna Loring

MF144 Women in the Military

Donna Loring, interviewed by Mazie Hough and Carol Toner, June 19, 2001, at the CATS Library in Augusta, Maine. Donna talks about enlisting in 1966; training in California and going to Vietnam; serving in the Military Occupational Specialty Signals Corps and as a soldier of the Women’s Army Corps. Text: 9 pp. transcript. Time: 01:20:59. Restrictions: None. Approval to release provided by James Francis of the Penobscot Historic Preservation Committee, 2024-02-23.

Listen

Part 1 mfc_na3207_c2308_01
Part 2 mfc_na3207_c2308_02

Navigating Archival Silences: Black History At Purdue, Sammie L. Morris

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

There are gaps in the historical record of Purdue University as evidenced in the lack of source materials in the University Archives. In particular, researching history on Black alumni, faculty, and staff and other people of color in Purdue's past is challenging due to the scarcity of source material. This presentation discusses gaps or archival silences in the University Archives and measures being taken to preserve and share access to Black history at Purdue.

"My First Best Love": Women's Writing On College Friendships 1880–1905, Alyssa J. Kayser-Hirsh

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, American society encouraged strong bonds between women. As separate sphere ideology took hold, highly-structured female relationships were created and maintained through shared rituals, language, and expectations. The resulting friendships enabled women to build a range of emotional ties with one another. At the same time, an expanding array of gender segregated educational institutions further promoted homosocial networks. Women’s college students built community through their shared experience inhabiting a collective space, forging social circles as well as one-on-one intimate relationships. This thesis examines women’s experiences of friendship within the college setting between 1880 …

Polygamy: Mormon Women’S Influence Throughout The Late 19th And Early 20th Century, Kaylan Finley

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Mormon religion has been perceived as an outsider due to various beliefs that are followed within its church. The belief that truly separated Mormons from the rest of the world is their practice of polygamy. This belief, which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced throughout the 19th century until its banishment in the early 20th century, is not looked at through a clear lense. When a large portion of writers and historians think of polygamy, they tend to think of the husband and his point of view. In this paper, Mormon women and their perspectives …

“Slaves Of The State:” The Exploitation Of Women Through Convict Leasing, Beth F. Newton

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Digital Resurrection Of Historical Figures: A Case Study On Mary Sibley Through Customized Chatgpt, James Hutson, Paul Huffman, Jeremiah Ratican

Faculty Scholarship

This study investigates the emerging realm of digital resurrection, focusing on Mary Sibley (1800–1878), the esteemed founder of Lindenwood University. The core objective was to demonstrate the capability of advanced artificial intelligence, specifically a customized version of ChatGPT, in revitalizing historical figures for educational and engagement purposes. By integrating comprehensive diaries from Sibley with Claude 2.0, the research utilized a substantial autobiographical dataset to develop a GPT beta version that replicates her distinct voice and tone. The incorporation of her official portrait and diaries into the GPT Builder was pivotal, creating an interactive platform that accurately reflects her perspectives on …

Recipes For Life: Black Women, Cooking, And Memory, Elspeth Mckay

The Great Lakes Journal of Undergraduate History

This paper examines cookbooks written by Black women from the mid eighteenth to late twentieth centuries. As cookbooks, these texts are practical and instructional, while also offering insights into the transnational development of food as an expression of cultural history through the Indigenous, African, and European influences evident within the cuisine. African Americans, and more specifically Black women, have contributed to the food history of the Southern United States by developing a distinct African American cuisine. As the author, I reflect on what it means for me – as a white Canadian woman in a border city – to be …

Internalized Oppression: Exploring The Nuanced Experiences Of Gender And Sexuality In Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Kathryn Kendal Ryan

The Great Lakes Journal of Undergraduate History

In the American South at the turn of the century, quality education was scarce and legislative laws were put in place to ensure that African American individuals remained far away from Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). As a result, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) became a catalyst for change in a “separate but equal” driven society. This article will explore the significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in elevating Black Americans throughout the twentieth century while assessing the conservative nature of the institutions and their inflexibility towards the various nuances of African American communities. While not particular to HCBUs, …

Handwritten Receipt For Cash, April 17, V. L. Stallworth

Real Estate Correspondence 1925-1937

Document: Handwritten receipt for cash received: Cash to R.H. Walker $50.00. Written on Empire State Insurance Company note paper.

Handwritten Receipt For Cash, April 18, Maude Richardson

Real Estate Correspondence 1925-1937

Document: Handwritten receipt for cash: Cash to R.H. Walker $75.00

Phyllis Sprague, Interviewed By Kristen Frey, Part 2, Phyllis M. Wheeler Sprague

MF144 Women in the Military

Phyllis Sprague, interviewed by Kristen Frey on November 14, 2001. Sprague was born in Newbury, Vermont in 1943. Sprague talks about joining the Army in 1961; a typical day in basic training and then working for the Army; experience as a medical officer in the Army; Sprague’s attitude toward the military and government becoming more patriotic after her service; way soldiers were welcomed home after Vietnam compared to the Gulf War; relationship between men and women in the military in the 60s; having to leave the military for pregnancy; absence of sexual harassment in the Army. Text: 10 pp. transcript. …

Paula Pietrowski, Interviewed By Annie Howley, Paula K. Pietrowski

MF144 Women in the Military

Paula Pietrowski, interviewed by Annie Howley, April 21, 2003. Pietrowski, age 36-37, talks about her decision to join the Coast Guard; her family and boyfriend’s reaction to her enlistment; her basic training experiences; returning to Maine for assignment; male vs. female commanding officers; tension between men and women and between women; minorities in the Coast Guard; sexual harassment; whether women should be included in the next draft; how she spent her leisure time; her discharge and transition to civilian life; rising through the ranks; gays and lesbians in the military; whether she would do it all over again; her most …

Deborah Smith, Interviewed By Sarah Beazley, Deborah Schultz Smith

MF144 Women in the Military

Deborah Smith, interviewed by Sarah Beazley, April 15, 2003, in her home in Brewer, Maine. Smith, age 42-43, talks about her decision to join the Air National Guard; rising through the ranks; her family and friends’ reaction to her enlistment; her current duties in the Air National Guard; her basic training experiences; how basic training affected her self-image; the bonds she formed with other female enlistees; discrimination in the military; changes in the role of women in the military; nursing as a historic profession for women in the military; women organizations in the military; her leisure time; meeting her husband …

Anne Tenney, Interviewed By Elizabeth Bunten, Anne E. Howes Ferris Tenney

MF144 Women in the Military

Anne Tenney, interviewed by Elizabeth Bunten, May 7, 2003, in Castine, Maine. Smith, age 81, talks about her decision to join the Navy (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in World War II; her basic training experiences; being assigned to New York City; her anti-submarine work; marrying and leaving the service after her pregnancy; remarrying another WWII veteran as a widow; public perception of women in the Navy during the war; minorities in the military; and changes in the role of women in the military. Text: 6 pp. transcript. Recording: No recording.

Erma Frances Fletcher, Interviewed By Amy L. Stevens, Erma Frances Dancer Fletcher

MF144 Women in the Military

Erma Frances Fletcher, interviewed by Amy L. Stevens, April 24, 2003, in Dexter, Maine. Fletcher, age 79, talks about her family history; her early life; working in a factory after high school; the stigma against female military service; enlisting in the Navy in World War II; her basic training experiences; marching for President Roosevelt; surviving on a small stipend; missing out on serving in Manila; her transcription work; how she spent her leisure time; meeting her husband during the war; regretting not staying in the service after 1946; moving to Washington, D.C. after her service; her sense of patriotism during …

Mary Jane Miller, Interviewed By Elizabeth Bunten, Mary Jane Chase Miller

MF144 Women in the Military

Mary Jane Miller, interviewed by Elizabeth Bunten, May 9, 2003. Miller, age 80, talks about her family; enlisting in the Navy (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in World War II; her family and friends’ reaction to her enlistment; her basic training experience; the relationship between male officers and female enlisted; her not going overseas during the war; whether she would do it all again; changes in opportunities for women in the military; leaving the Navy after the war; delivering a top secret message; and working under women officers. Text: 8 pp. transcript. Recording: No recording.

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, Interviewed By Davida Kellogg, Part 1, Judy-Ann Carroll

MF144 Women in the Military

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, interviewed by Davida Kellogg, August 20, 2002, in Ms. Kellogg’s home in Orono, Maine. Carroll talks about her service in the United States Army through the College Junior Program; her training conducted at Fort McClellan, AL; being stationed later in Darmstadt, Germany; serving as a training officer with the Women’s Army Corps and as a Military Police Officer. Text: 35 pp. transcript, 10 pp supplemental material. Time: 01:45:42. Restrictions: None.

Listen:

Part 1: mfc_na3253_c2366_01
Part 2: mfc_na3253_c2366_02
Part 3: mfc_na3253_c2367.1_01

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, Interviewed By Davida Kellogg, Part 2, Judy-Ann Carroll

MF144 Women in the Military

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, interviewed by Davida Kellogg, August 20, 2002, in Ms. Kellogg’s home in Orono, Maine. Carroll talks about her service in the United States Army through the College Junior Program; her training conducted at Fort McClellan, AL; being stationed later in Darmstadt, Germany; serving as a training officer with the Women’s Army Corps and as a Military Police Officer. Text: 35 pp. transcript, 10 pp supplemental material. Time: 01:45:42. Restrictions: None.

Listen:

Part 1: mfc_na3253_c2366_01
Part 2: mfc_na3253_c2366_02
Part 3: mfc_na3253_c2367.1_01

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, Interviewed By Davida Kellogg, Part 3, Judy-Ann Carroll

MF144 Women in the Military

Colonel Judy-Ann Carroll, interviewed by Davida Kellogg, August 20, 2002, in Ms. Kellogg’s home in Orono, Maine. Carroll talks about her service in the United States Army through the College Junior Program; her training conducted at Fort McClellan, AL; being stationed later in Darmstadt, Germany; serving as a training officer with the Women’s Army Corps and as a Military Police Officer. Text: 35 pp. transcript, 10 pp supplemental material. Time: 01:45:42. Restrictions: None.

Listen:

Part 1: mfc_na3253_c2366_01
Part 2: mfc_na3253_c2366_02
Part 3: mfc_na3253_c2367.1_01