I can't say for certain when I discovered Virginia Stephen Woolf (1882-1941). Sometime during my teens I read her essay, The Waves, and felt relief as the stream of my own consciousness was echoed on the pages I was reading. I am not a Virginia Woolf scholar, and I don't own any fancy versions or first editions, but the well-worn paperbacks on my bookshelf never fail to bring me pleasure and renew that original sense of relief, validation, excitement, and energy that comes from … [Read more...]
Linda Waller Shockley, Protector of Stories and Places that Matter
Today, on the fiftieth anniversary of the March on Selma, I'd like to bring to light a woman whose quiet, steady work on behalf of social justice and memory has impressed and inspired me from the time I met her more than twenty years ago. Although her project has not gained the attention of Hollywood, yet, it should. We like to think of our democracy as just and equitable, but these painful stories of oppression, abuse, and prejudice continue to show up in our communities. Linda Waller … [Read more...]
The Amazing Madeleine
For the nineteenth profile of Women's History Month, I'm responding to a nomination from the field, gladly -- Cathy Smith shot me this Facebook message: "I'd like to throw out a name for your women's history month- Madeline Albright. Terry and I saw a wonderful exhibit concerning her famous pin collection and diplomacy. She is a strong woman who went toe to toe with world leaders." I shot back, "I LOVE her!" Well, where does the enthusiasm cool for this woman? I was totally hers from … [Read more...]
Esther Hepler Inglesby, WPA Artist and Community Inspiration
For the eighteenth day of Women's History Month, I'm thinking fondly of Esther Hepler Inglesby (1909-2000), a well-loved member of the Merchantville community and an accomplished artist. For my wedding shower, she gave me a handwritten poem about marriage, and when it turns up, I'll post it. Her joy in life and art was contagious, and she was an active member of the Merchantville Historical Society for decades. Fortunately, she has a granddaughter who curated her work, and kept her … [Read more...]
The First Woman to Win the Nobel Peace Prize
Jane Addams gets my cheer today for the seventeenth post about a woman who inspires me during this month of writing women back into history. When I was young, I read a story of grace and generosity in a biography of Jane Addams that I never forgot. As I recall, she had just begun to operate Hull House, her Chicago mission, and one night a thief broke into her room to steal from her. Although she had been startled awake, she maintained her composure. Rather than calling the police, she offered … [Read more...]
Won’t You Celebrate With Me?
One week ago, a group of awesome daughters met to honor our mothers. We began to tell stories that had been held closely for years, and found that we didn't want to stop. Then I shared the story of the pork cake that was replaced by persimmon cake, and how a simple change in perspective (and ingredients) released me from repeating a family tradition that was making me sick. Wouldn't it be lovely to drop a deeper line into this mother lode of wisdom, creativity, and joy? Rituals of … [Read more...]
A Sister I Never Met
Bernadette Marie Stridick (6/25/1951 - 10/10/1976) For the sixteenth day of Women's History Month, I'm remembering a woman I never met, but have come to love as a sister. I imagine she would have been a good friend and sister-in-law, had she lived long enough to celebrate my wedding to her brother. In October 1989, soon after I began dating Paul, he dropped out for a couple of days. When we reconnected, he told me that the anniversary of the day his sister had … [Read more...]
Before DIY Was Trendy, There was Erma . . .
Today, on the 15th day of Women's History Month, I'm honoring my paternal grandmother, Erma Rebecca Frederick Wilson. Born on July 1, 1890, Erma spent her entire 97 years in Columbiana, Ohio. We visited her at the house where my father grew up, one block from Main Street. Her home was spotless and she always filled a table with fresh vegetables from her kitchen garden, pickles, canned peaches, cottage cheese, freshly made bread, pies, cookies and home-made preserves. She was the epitome of the … [Read more...]
Women’s Stories Count and VIDA Keeps Track . . .
For women to make history, we must tell our stories and listen to each other. We must name names. We must count. When I promised my mother that I would curate her art and archives, neither of us realized how difficult it would be. I counted the paintings in her studio and the family collection, mailed a request for information to her collectors, and compiled a database of 1,200 works, out of an estimated 2,000 she created during her lifetime. I selected a representative 200 color plates … [Read more...]
Pork Cake or Persimmon: Women’s Stories Evolve
I've always found groups of women produce fascinating stories and brilliant solutions. Whenever I am in a transition, there are women around me in the same boat. We bond, magnetically –like Spanky and Our Gang– and the tide pulls us forth. There was an early writing group I dubbed Ladies of the Lake (LOL); then another, Great Ones (GO); I convened a series of Goddess Brunches to … [Read more...]
