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Virginia Women, 1600-1045

The next selection of books I want to feature from our “For Sale” shelf in the CGS library are about women. As you undoubtedly know it is typically much harder to uncover information about our female ancestors. Most history and genealogy books are disproportionately focused on the lives of men, so it is always nice to find books that celebrate women. These three are currently on our “For Sale” shelf and can be yours for whatever price you feel is fair.

First, we have Suzanne Lebsock’s Virginia Women, 1600-1945 “A Share of Honour” from the Virginia State Library. This book describes the lives of women in Virginia and how their roles and experiences evolved during the time period covered. One reviewer, Jan C. Dawson wrote, “Masterful commentary on the past experiences of Virginia. A landmark in women’s history.” Though the book features women in Virginia it no doubt is exemplary of much of the south.

Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey

Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel tells a very different story. She describes the great 1840-1870 westward migration from the female perspective. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “These chronicles of women show an aspect of the westward saga seldom seen before and never in such depth … Absorbing, informative, sobering reading.” Published in 1992, the original price was $14.

Finally, we have The Log of The Skipper’s Wife by James W. Balano. The back cover offers a good glimpse of what the book is about, “Little did Dorothea Moulton know, when she agreed to chaperone her schoolteacher friend and her friend’s husband-to-be on a sailing trip from Puerto Rico to Boston, that she would wind up as the ‘skipper’s wife’ herself. She did, and for the next two decades, Dorothea spent a large part of her married life aboard her husband’s various ships, sailing around the world, visiting mysterious and glamorous ports, and raising a family. At times earthy, always interesting, this is Dorothea Moulton Balano’s eyewitness account of life aboard some of the last of the vaunted Maine windjammers.”

Log of the Skipper’s Wife by James W. Balano

Sounds like a good read even if you don’t have sailing ancestors. All of these books are in good condition. For a reasonable offer, our Library Committee volunteers will ship the book to you, or, since the library is now open by appointment, you can come into the library to pick it up and do some research while you’re there. Email Chris Pattillo with any questions: [email protected]. Due to covid protocols, we are not accepting cash so please make a donation through the donation page on our website.