Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business [Hardcover]

Virginia G. Drachman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2002

Meet Katherine Goddard, owner of a print shop and publisher of the first signed copy of the Declaration of Independence; meet Madam C. J. Walker, whose hair care products brought her from her slave parents' dilapidated cabin to her own Hudson River estate; and meet Katharine Graham, publisher of the Pentagon Papers and owner of the Washington Post Company.

These are just three of the diverse women whose lives unfold in this engaging history of women entrepreneurs in America from the colonial era to the end of the twentieth century. Some ran businesses in industries dominated by men, such as iron and aircraft production, while others built businesses that marketed specifically to women, in industries such as beauty, fashion, and food. Despite facing gender discrimination and the burdens of work and family, these women entrepreneurs understood the value of a good idea, were willing to take a risk, and believed in the possibility of the American dream of success.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-A companion to the museum exhibition of the same name, this book features women who had what it tookto succeed despite the less-than-invitingattitudes of their times. Subjects include Mary Katharine Goddard, publisher of the first signed copy of the Declaration of Independence and owner of a print shop; Madam C. J. Walker, creator of hair-care products; Julia Morgan, architect and designer of Hearst Castle; and Hazel Bishop, creator of "kissable lipstick." The women's stories are set within the context of their eras and milieus. The text is liberally illustrated with photographs and document facsimiles. While this title may not provide complete biographical information on any one individual, it complements other sources and is entertaining reading.
Peggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

What might have turned out to be a rather commercial tome, sponsored by corporate heavyweights AT & T and Ford, has become a reference work to consult on the topic of women in business. Drachman, the architect of the project spearheaded by the National Heritage Museum and the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library, does the subject proud. Copious research on little-known trailblazers such as Wall Street's Hetty Green and iron-manufacturing czar Rebecca Lukens is combined with thoughtful commentary on more modern-day icons such as Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey. Each of the five chapters begins with a visual time line, setting the historical context. Then, in a compelling narrative, themes and trends are woven through a text that focuses on specific women and their accomplishments in detail. Photographs and illustrations add another dimension. There's Lydia Pinkham, inventor of tonics and other health products, claiming, "A woman best understands a woman's ills." And who could forget Katharine Graham's words when she decided to publish the Pentagon Papers: "Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Let's go." Inspiring and long overdue. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (October 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807827622
• ISBN-13: 978-0807827628
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars www.valderbeebeshow.com, March 4, 2006

By 

Valder Beebe "Valder Beebe Show Producers" (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business (Hardcover)

exhibition and looks at the lives of women from 1750 to 2000. Meet women who were and continue to be instrumental in building America.
Enterprising Women brings to life the stories of family, marriage, motherhood and business savvy success. Marriage was a crucial decision in a woman's life before the 20th century. A woman's choice in marriage ranked with survival, so a divorce could be the demise of a woman's lifestyle and life. Yet, Madam C. J. Walker, Elizabeth Arden and Martha Stewart endured and flourished after divorce while at the helm of their companies. Motherhood was a challenge (and still continues to be a challenge), so a few women remained single as in the case of Katherine Goddard whose business was a family business. Ellen Domoest sold paper dress patterns, Oprah Winfrey has taken self-improvement to billion-dollar success, Lillian Vernon started a catalog at her kitchen table and Maggie L. Walker became the first African American bank president. Enterprising Women is a must-have for every women and her daughter to know where she came from and what each of us are capable of achieving in business and on life's journey.