Telling HerStory 2014: The Lowell Offering

The Book:

The Lowell Offering. Writings by New England Mill Women 1840-1845. Edited with Introduction and Commentary by Benita Eisler.

What's it about:

From the back cover: "From the farms of New England, these hopeful young women flocked to the boardinghouse mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1830s and 1840s. Lured by higher wages offered to female employees anywhere in America, they sought and found independence and opportunity in the country's first planned industrial community."

This book includes letters and narrative written by the women themselves.

Why you should read it:

Have Mill Girl ancestors? You need to read this to better understand their lives.


Additional resources:

• Modern History Sourcebook: Harriett Robinson: Lowell Mill Girls
• Lowell Mill Girls
• The Lowell Offering Index by Judith Ranta

Telling HerStory 2014: A Dictionary of Female Occupations

The Book:

A Dictionary of Female Occupations: Women’s Employment from 1850-1950 by Margaret Ward

What's it about:

A Dictionary of Female Occupations… looks at occupations women held in England from 1850 to 1950. This book takes an encyclopedic approach to its articles with short descriptions of 300 occupations that include hints regarding where to find documents to research. While some of the jobs listed  will be familiar like nurse or domestic servant (those fans of TV’s Downton Abbey can bone up on all the different nuisances that the term servant includes) ; others will be surprising such as  fur pullers and miners.

The author’s introduction states that this book “sets out to demonstrate the range and diversity of women’s work spanning the last two centuries…and to suggest ways of finding out more about what often seems to be a ‘hidden history’.” 

Why you should read it:

I love how this work not only describes the history of an occupation but also provides resources for learning more about the occupation and in some cases where the records exist. In some cases certain careers can have multiple entries describing all of the nuisances that have existed including various titles during war time. I was surprised by how many of the occupations were unfamiliar to me but were obviously a product of their time. One such occupation was Aerated Water Bottler. This job required protective gear for the face and arms as the women filled glass bottles with aerated water. In a period article labeling this job one of the most dangerous, it explained that removing the filled bottle from the machine, posed the greatest danger. A short history of the job teaches the reader that carbonated drinks, available since the 18^th century, were popular in the Victorian period especially as an alternative to alcohol.

Additional resources:

• Women's Work (Gena's Pinterest Board)

Telling HerStory 2014: Wisconsin Women and the War Between the States

The Book:

Wisconsin Women and the War Between the States by Ethel Alice Hurn.

What's it about:

"Ethel Alice Hurn collected and classified the work done by Wisconsin women during the Civil War both at the military front and at home. Using information found in correspondence, reminiscences, pamphlets, newspapers, and interviews with survivors, Hurn reconstructs the activities and lives of Wisconsin's women." (from the Wisconsin Historical Society website, see url below).


Why you should read it:

What did women do during the American Civil War? Probably more than you realize and this is one way to learn about this fascinating topic of women during war time. Don't let the fact that it's about Wisconsin women stop you, if you don't have Wisconsin ancestors. Some of the activities that women took part in would have been the same no matter where they lived.

This book is available online for free.


Additional resources:

• Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin Women and the War Between the States (digitized)

Telling HerStory 2014: Vivian Maier

The Book:

Vivian Maier: Street Photographer by Vivian Maier and John Maloof (editor).

What's it about:

Street photography taken by Vivian Maier that was discovered through an auction of her belongings. From that find, this book and another book as well as a movie were created. These photos are of the places and people that she encountered walking about but never showed anyone. Over 100,000 photos she took, only a small sampling are found in this book. But really, the reason I would have you see this book isn't so much for the photography (thought there's a lot to love about it) it's about the story of Vivian and her personal archive. To read about this story, see the websites listed below.


Why you should read it:

This book is really a book of photographs, so not much reading per se. I think you should study the book and the websites because it's a great example of piecing together the life of an everyday woman from the material things she left behind. I love this idea and am in love with this project. A great example of what you could do to piece together the lives of your more recent female ancestors.


Additional resources:

• Finding Vivian Maier (the movie)
• Vivian Maier

Telling HerStory 2014: Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

The Book:

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls 

What's it about:

Years ago, someone suggested I read Jeannette Wall’s book The Glass Castle. I initially said, no thank you, since her story of a dysfunctional family did not interest me. The person insisted and handed me the book. So out of politeness I read it and soon found myself mesmerized by Jeanette’s tale of parents who were eccentric beyond words. They raise their children in a nomadic, often homeless, impoverished life. A tale of kids who, in this day, would probably be removed from their home and placed with a foster family in the name of negligence.  Her  story is one that sticks with you. When anyone mentions the book, the first thought I have is reading about the time Jeanette’s family moved and stuck the kids, including a baby in the back of the U-haul. No, not the back seat, but the back where you put your stuff. This book leaves you wondering why on earth would parents, and especially her mother who seemed “normal,” let this happen.

The answer is found in Jeanette’s second book, Half Broke Horses. Half Broke Horses chronicles her maternal grandmother's life. However, instead of basing the tale on research, her grandmother died when she was 8 years old, she uses her mother's oral history of her grandmother's life as the basis for the book.


Why you should read it:

So at this point, you're probably thinking "what does this have to do with genealogy and researching my female ancestors?"

Wall's grandmother was a true trailblazer, she taught school starting at 15 years of age and she rode her horse, by herself across New Mexico and Arizona to her first job. Can you imagine letting your 15 year old daughter ride across 2 states, it took her about 20 days, with some money, a bedroll and a gun by herself? (This was in the early 1900s). She later travels to Chicago by herself and works as a domestic. Eventually traveling back to Arizona she becomes a school teacher again and marries Jim Smith, a son of Mormon pioneer Lot Smith.

Though I wish there was more genealogy research used in writing this book, she did refer to a family history book and a book about Lot Smith to confirm some details, it is a great example of what you can do with those family stories. Genealogists who lack the documentation that fills in the gaps of an ancestor’s life may want to consider writing a novel-like account that incorporates social history and what facts are available. Wall’s book proves that the everyday person’s life is interesting and the importance of documenting the lives of our more recent ancestors.

Additional resources:

How Jeannette Walls Spins Good Stories Out of Bad Memories

Telling HerStory 2014: The Family Tree Problem Solver by Marsha Hoffman Rising

The Book:

The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-true Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors by  Marsha Hoffman Rising. Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books, 2011.


What's it about:

There are a lot of genealogical how-to books out there. The Family Tree Problem Solver is, in my opinion, one of the best. It’s not aimed at the beginning genealogist simply because it strives to help people who currently have hit a brick wall in their research. Any genealogist who has some research and problem solving under their belt will benefit from the ideas in this book. More advanced genealogists can also benefit from chapters on problem solving and analysis, researching ancestors before 1850 and sorting through individuals with the same name.

This book, now in it’s 2nd edition, was originally written by genealogist Marsha Hoffman Rising who passed away in 2010. She was the author of many articles and works about Arkansas genealogy.  She worked as a professional genealogist for 25 years.


Why you should read it:

Whether you purchase a used copy of the 1st edition or buy the  2nd edition, your genealogy will benefit. The 2nd edition  includes updates on Internet genealogy, DNA and genealogical terms written by genealogists Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, Laureen Gamber and the editors of Family Tree Magazine respectively. This is the type of book that you do not have to read from cover to cover. You can choose sections that would best help you with your own genealogical problem and then go from there.

One of my favorite sections can be found in the chapter entitled The Critical Connection: Finding Ancestors who Lived before 1850, this chapter includes a list, Tenets for the Tenacious: Suggestions for discovering the origins of pioneer ancestors that outlines 15 steps for tracking these early ancestors.  This 15 step tip list is one that should be laminated and kept by every genealogist’s computer to help remind them of methodology when they hit the proverbial brick wall. Advice contained in this list includes focus on families, not surnames; search surrounding areas; and learn all you can about your ancestor and his community.

Your research will benefit from this book. Your work uncovering the stories of female ancestors will benefit from this book. Read this book!

Additional resources:

• Marsha Hoffman Rising and her work via Warren, Carmack & Associates

Telling HerStory 2014 Meets Church Record Sunday: Women and Religion

***Note from Gena: This post is an encore of one for Women's History Month 2013. It's an important work that I felt needed to be spotlighted again. Really one of the books to have to better understand female ancestors and religion.

Sometimes it can be helpful to sit back and read some history when you hit that genealogical brick wall. History and the sources historians use can provide you with insight, new methodologies, and resources.

Since we are looking at resources for researching women this month I wanted to share some a book title that might be helpful to your  research.

Women & Religion in America, Volume 1  deals with the 19th century. Essays in this volume include the topics of revivalism, Utopian movements, nuns in immigrant Catholicism, Jewish women, right to preach, lay women in Protestantism and social reform movements. A snippet view of the book is available at Google Books.

Volume 2 deals with the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. There is also an Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America by the same editors.

Tip: As you read non-fiction, make sure to go take a look at the end notes or footnotes and bibliography, making special note of resources that can help inform your own research.