Encyclopedia of Women's History in America

431 Pages·2000·4.03 MB·English

by  Kathryn Cullen-Dupont

Encyclopedia of
Women’s History in America
Second Edition
Kathryn Cullen-DuPont
Encyclopedia of Women’s History in America
Copyright second edition © 2000 by Kathryn Cullen-DuPont
Copyright first edition © 1996 by Kathryn Cullen-DuPont
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cullen-DuPont, Kathryn.
Encyclopedia of women’s history in America / Kathryn Cullen-DuPont.—2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-4100-8 (hc)
1. Women—United States—History—Encyclopedias. 2. Feminism—United States—History—Encyclope-
dias. I. Title: Women’s history in America. II. Title.
HQ1410.C85 2000
305.4'0973'03—dc21
99-087498
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Text design by Joan Toro
Cover design by Cathy Rincon
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Printed in the United States of America
VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
For Elizabeth Frost-Knappman

Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Entries A–Z 1
Appendix: Documents 291
Bibliography 377
Index 000
vii

Preface
Since earliest colonial times, women have contributed to of several ways: As (1) women who have affected the
the life of the United States and all its people while striv- general course of American history; (2) women impor-
ing to better their own situation. This encyclopedia is tant in the struggle for (or, sometimes, against) equal
intended to bring together information about the organi- rights; (3) barrier-breaking women, the “firsts” to make
zations founded, the books and newspapers published, their way into the professions and government offices
the speeches given, the documents signed, the demon- once reserved to men, and the women who, following
strations and conventions held, the legislative actions the “firsts” into these new territories, have made particu-
proposed and enacted, the task forces and committees larly significant contributions; (4) visionary women who
convened, and the legal rulings rendered—all in the created and/or inspired lasting community service orga-
course of “Women’s History in America.” nizations, new public policy initiatives, and even reli-
In choosing individual women for inclusion, I have gions; and (5) women who have made especially
not attempted the comprehensiveness possible in a work prominent contributions to the cultural and intellectual
restricted solely to biographical entries. I have, however, life of America. I have also and without apology selected
tried to include the women who stand out, almost as some women simply because their accomplishments are
landmarks but certainly as central figures, in at least one pathbreaking within a particular community.
ix

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank many people, organizations, and thirteen people who’ve since become siblings-in-law, and
institutions for their help with this book: first and fore- my eighteen nieces and nephews, for more extended fam-
most, my editor, Michelle Fellner, for her thoughtful, ily support than any one person deserves; my son, Jesse
intelligent, and rigorous editing, which greatly added to Cullen-DuPont, for keeping me in touch with women’s
this book, and for her unfailing encouragement through- accomplishments in the sports world; my daughter,
out this project; Annelise Orleck, for her review of this Melissa Cullen-DuPont, for stimulating conversations
manuscript on what was not always a convenient sched- about Harriot Stanton Blatch, Ruth St. Denis, and other
ule and for her generous advice and guidance; Jeanne women in this encyclopedia, which I’ve enjoyed more
Jimenez and Jessica Kremen-Kotlen, for their careful than she may ever know; and my husband, Joseph F.
research assistance; the staff of the New York Public DuPont, who has been more encouraging and supportive
Library, for providing access to wonderful books and than any words of mine can adequately express. Finally,
other records of women’s history; the support staffs of I’d like to thank my agent and sometime-coauthor, Eliza-
the many women’s and other organizations I contacted beth Frost-Knappman, for her insights into women’s his-
with requests for information; my parents, Martin and tory, her enthusiasm, and, especially, her friendship, all of
Arlene Cullen, my mother-in-law, Barbara DuPont, the which have been greatly appreciated.
seven siblings I was lucky enough to grown up with, the
xi