“Women’s history and feminist history are often used interchangeably but this serves to play down the specific approach of feminist historians.”
Just found this piece by academic June Hannam on the Making History website, and thought I’d link it here. Among other things, she clarifies how the feminist approach to history in general is distinct from the subject of women’s history.
I guess I know this stuff, really; it’s common sense and it’s what I’ve been trying to apply to (family) history here. Nevertheless, I still have moments of doubt, so it’s good to read something reasonably authoritative that encourages me to keep plugging away.
My new books arrived yesterday (hurrah! See photo) but I haven’t cracked a spine yet, as I’m busy with work. It’s likely that posts here will continue to focus on Augusta Parsons Hylander’s life story for at least the next week or two. I find her account of Swedish life and emigration fascinating (not least because of all she doesn’t say), and it’ll be good to have it up here in its entirety.
Other background activity: I’ve been asking around about the “I Accept” document (this blog’s most-viewed post, as it happens), and while I still don’t know who distributed it, I’ve been pointed in the direction of some fascinating documents relating to baby-saving campaigns and the history of the Children’s Bureau in America. Thanks to the NY Public Library’s Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, and to the US National Archives, for their advice so far. Investigations continue.
