Introducing readers to women whose Civil War experiences have long been ignored; Judith Giesberg examines the lives of working-class women in the North; for whom the home front was a battlefield of its own.Black and white working-class women managed farms that had been left without a male head of household; worked in munitions factories; made uniforms; and located and cared for injured or dead soldiers. As they became more active in their new roles; they became visible as political actors; writing letters; signing petitions; moving (or refusing to move) from their homes; and confronting civilian and military officials. At the heart of the book are stories of women who fought the draft in New York and Pennsylvania; protested segregated streetcars in San Francisco and Philadelphia; and demanded a living wage in the needle trades and safer conditions at the Federal arsenals where they labored. Giesberg challenges readers to think about women and children who were caught up in the military conflict but nonetheless refused to become its collateral damage. She offers a dramatic reinterpretation of how America's Civil War reshaped the lived experience of race and gender and brought swift and lasting changes to working-class family life.
#1284359 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2007-04-30 2007-04-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .76 x 6.10l; .95 #File Name: 0807858226304 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Masterless MistressesBy CustomerThis book by Tulane University Professor; Emily Clark; about the colonial history of the Ursulines in New Orleans is a wonderfully written tapestry of how only a handful of religious women became part of the complex and fascinating story of the city of New Orleans in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Clark's book is a blend of historical scholarship beginning with the spiritual founding and formation of the Ursulines in Italy and then development in France. Who were these Ursulines? Why did they come to Louisiana? What physical hardships did they undergo? (As a companion to this book I suggest Voices From An Early American Convent; edited by Emily Clark) What were their apostolic and cultural achievements? Professor Clark tells the story of the Ursulines not only in their charitable works such as teaching; running orphanages; and hospitalers; but also how they ran plantations as slave owners.This last activity may come as a surprise to modern readers but the story is well documented with the family names of slaves. Professor Clark credits the Ursulines with keeping slave families together; unlike Spanish and British/American slave owners. They also followed the French mandate of seeing that Indian and Blacks were baptized and raised Catholics. Still Professor Clark does not fail to mention that in 1864 with the emancipation of Blacks; all the slaves were happy to leave the Ursuline plantation. And how did the Ursulines deal with borders and slaves who could not live up to their strict moral code? They sold them off.Professor Clark devotes a large portion of her book to the thesis that the Ursulines; as unmarried self-supporting single women; (without master husbands) represented a different model of Christian womanhood than Protestant married women. In fact Professor Clark relates that the Uruslines posed a threat to leading men of New Orleans during the American Republican era which had little regard for the independence of women after its successful revolution from Britain.Professor Clark writes that the Ursulines were hierarchical in their own Order's makeup and that they conformed to the prevailing class social structure; yet they exhibited an egalitarian spirit when ministering to the spiritual welfare of their charges; i.e. Indians; blacks; rich; poor; women.Professor Clark scholarship never gets in the way of a very clear and entertaining writing style. Even more important; in my opinion; Professor Clark; shows enormous admiration; even love for these pioneering women without losing her professional historian's discerning judgment.Definitely five stars.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding view of the life of early 1700s in New France.By Merle M. AlbersOutstanding account of the difficulties encountered by these dedicated women who willingly left family and friends to help others in an unknown wilderness.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy R80533Exacting in the depth of study. A must read for a researcher of the period.
