Women Educators in the United States, 1820-1993: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook [Hardcover]

Maxine Schwartz Seller (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313279373 | ISBN-13: 978-0313279379 | Publication Date: May 30, 1994 | Edition: First

This reference profiles the careers of more than sixty women educators who made significant contributions to American education in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Multicultural in nature, the book includes African-American, Native-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic women. The profiles are arranged alphabetically, and each begins with a brief paragraph summarizing the subject's importance. The entries provide information about the subject's family background, her education, people and events that influenced her, her goals, her achievements, and the impact of gender on her life and career. Each contributor locates his or her subject within the appropriate social and political context, thus providing an historical background for the educator. Each entry concludes with a bibliography of works by and about the subject, and the volume closes with a chronological listing of the women and a selected bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Profiled here are 66 women who made significant contributions to American education. Many were presidents of colleges or professional schools; others were leaders in elementary and secondary education. Some influenced education through activism, such as sex-educator Mary Calderone and writer Lydia Maria Francis Child. This is a multiracial source, including such women of color as Mary McLeod Bethune, Johnetta B. Cole, Delores "Lola" Gonzales, Janine Pease-Windy Boy, and Joyce Sachiko Tsunoda. Opening each sketch is an overview of the contributions of the subject to American education, followed by an in-depth biography. Each entry concludes with two bibliographies, works by and works about the subject.

Each of the biographies was penned by a scholar with special expertise on the particular educator and the period in which she lived. Biographies of living educators are often based on interviews in addition to written sources. Entries cover family background, education, career, and professional development and contributions. Authors were instructed to reflect on the impact of gender on each subject's life. Professional activities and achievements in fields outside of education are also described. An appendix listing the women by date of birth is followed by a bibliography and a detailed index.

The subjects reflect American society. Educationally, they were products of training in elite colleges and one-room schools. Their contributions to American education vary as much as their backgrounds; however, a passion for excellence is a common thread in all of the biographies. This reference source is highly recommended for academic library reference collections. Secondary school media centers may want to consider purchase, too.

Review

“This fine assemblage of biographies introduces readers to 66 women educators whose professional lives mirror 'common themes.' This useful source is recommended without reservation to all libraries, academic and public.”–Choice

“This reference source is highly recommended for academic library reference collections. Secondary school media centers may want to consider purchase, too.”–Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

“The profiles, illustrating the different lives and accomplishments of American women educators, make this reference tool unique. I recommend Women Educators in the United States for college and university libraries, particularly those libraries with strong collections on the history of education and the history of American women. Its specialty provides new insights for both fields.”– Feminist Collections

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 632 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; First edition (May 30, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313279373
• ISBN-13: 978-0313279379
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,251,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)