Women's History-Personal Histories

Two remarkable women from two different generations can be found in these featured titles.

Healing Hearts: A Memoir of a Female Heart Surgeon; 617.412 M195h

A cardiothoracic surgeon, who seeks to educate women about the importance of taking care of themselves and their hearts, writes an approachable memoir in which she details her roles as physician, wife, and mother. Magliato intersperses anecdotes from her personal life with emergency medical situations, and, without being heavy-handed, she doles out medical advice. Magliato discusses her struggles with issues affecting women professionals, such as sexual harassment and parenthood, with frankness. As she recounts her formative years and her training to become a doctor, she writes as if she is talking to one of her friends or her family members. One comes away from this memoir having an appreciation for life and for those who work to save lives.

The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor; 331.092 D748w

Though her name may have faded from all but the history books, Frances Perkins’ work as an activist and politician lingers into the 21st century. Perkins, President Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor and the first female cabinet member in U.S. history, was instrumental in securing an eight-hour workday, safer fire escapes, and Social Security. She also oversaw and/or implemented some of the New Deal initiatives like the Works Progress Administration. Kirstin Downey recounts the fascinating and challenging life that Frances had as the Labor Secretary and as a working mother with a husband who was institutionalized for much of their married life. In addition to synthesizing the facts of Ms. Perkins’ life, the author engages the reader in the person of Ms. Perkins; a woman who was down to earth despite her political position. For those who have an interest in U.S. history, labor relations, or women’s history, this biography delivers.

To check out one or both of these titles, come to the library and one of the librarians will be happy to assist you.

Women and the Right to Vote in the U.S.

Women’s Right to Vote: America’s Suffrage Movement by Katie Marsico

In this chronological account of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, Ms. Marsico details the events and the major participants involved in securing women’s right to vote. Though women could vote in some states, until the 19th amendment was ratified, there was no national law granting women’s suffrage. Even with the 19th amendment, African American women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960s. The author highlights the less glamorous side of the struggle women faced, by talking about the arrest and forced feeding of some of the activists. The well-researched text is accompanied by black-and-white color photographs, which document the suffragists, their marches, and contemporary activists today.

To find out more information about this book, click here, and to learn more about women’s suffrage, legislation related to women’s rights, or women’s history, stop by the Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center. One of the librarians will be glad to assist you.

Women History: A Cornucopia

The library received two journals with our mail today that featured women or women's issues in them.


The first journal, Newsweek, has Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on the cover. Inside the March 14th issue is an article about Secretary Clinton and her work with women and women's rights around the world. The most recent issue also highlights 150 women who shake the world.


In the second journal, T+D (Training + Development), writers Saudra Stroope and Bonnie Hagemann ask if women have made much progress in gaining executive leadership positions in corporate America. The article can be accessed through the Academic Search Premier database in EBSCOhost.

The library has both of these journals here in the periodicals section, and one of the librarians will be glad to help you locate them.


Newsweek, March 14, 2011
T+D, March 2011

Check the blog again later this week for more about women's history.

Women's History Month in the Library

March is Women's History Month, and to celebrate it the library has put up a book display featuring titles related to women and women's history.

Some of the titles included in the display are listed below, and to learn more about the book, just click on the title. If you want to check out any of these titles, please bring the title to the reference desk and one of the librarians will be glad to help you.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture
Creative Girl: The Ultimate Guide for Turning Talent and Creativity into a Real Career
Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat
Iron Butterflies: Women Transforming Themselves and the World

Here are some websites that provide more information about Women's History Month.

National Women's History Project
Women's History from the Library of Congress

Check the blog again next week to see more about women's history.