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Category Archives: Women’s History
The Wonderful Women of Oz
With the recent premiere of the long-awaited movie adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s book, Wicked, there is much talk about not only Glinda and Elphaba, two of Oz’s most famous witches, but also the larger Wizard of Oz universe. While we … Continue reading
Posted in Literature, Women's History
Tagged Activism, American Literature, Betsy Bobbin, Book illustrations, Children's literature, Dorothy Gale, Fantasy Literature, Female characters, Fitzhugh collection, General Jinjur, L. Frank Baum, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Oz Books, Ozma, Toppan Rare Books Library, Wicked, Wizard of Oz
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The Purple Crusader: Wilma Soss’s Financial Revolution
Picture this: It’s 1949, and a woman in a vibrant purple Victorian costume storms into a U.S. Steel shareholders meeting, demanding change. This wasn’t a historical reenactment gone wrong—it was Wilma Soss, making her theatrical debut in the world of … Continue reading
“Asters All A-blow”: Women’s Gardening Aesthetic in Industrial America and Eliza Toppan’s Gardening Manuals
The Toppan Rare Book Library is inextricably linked to the legacies of members of the Toppan family: Frederick, Clara, and Eliza. Fred, a geologist, met Clara Raab when he and Eliza moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1941. As a … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Books, Women's History
Tagged Book collecting, Botanical illustrations, Cottage-style gardens, Eliza Toppan, Female authors, Gardening manuals, Helena Rutherfurd Ely, Horticulture, Illustrated books, Industrial America, Margaret Armstrong, rare books, Toppan Rare Book Library, Victorian era, Women gardeners
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Eve Farson – Better Than Any Man
Eve Farson was a woman with an indomitable spirit. She defied expectations and embarked on adventures that rivaled those of any man. The niece of Bram Stoker (author of the gothic horror novel, Dracula), Eve was born Enid Eveleen Stoker … Continue reading
A Friendship in the Books
For dearest Olga—who knows, loves and writes books—from a kindred soul with love and admiration. Ishbel Ross. Christmas 1964, inscription in An American Family: The Tafts, 1678 to 1964. For Olga Arnold—dear and understanding friend. Devotedly, Ishbel Ross. Christmas 1967, … Continue reading
Harriet Hinsdale’s Library: A Room Worth Rating
With the increased popularity of video conferencing platforms like Zoom over the last few years, more and more people began to notice room backgrounds. The idea of “rating the room” often became more important than what was discussed.[i] Many of these … Continue reading
Lights, Camera, Activism: Gladys Margaret Crane’s Enduring Cultural Footprint
August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day, and in that spirit, our blog will delve into the papers of Professor Gladys Margaret Crane, a woman of many interests and talents. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1928. Crane … Continue reading
Beyond Prissy: The Literary Ambitions of Butterfly McQueen
In a small collection at the American Heritage Center – apparently the only archival collection of her papers anywhere – actress Butterfly McQueen preserved a series of typescript works that made me wonder: of all her experiences, why did she … Continue reading →