Reference Book of the Week

 
Women in American History : A Social, Political, and Cultural Encyclopedia and Document Collection 
Peg A. Lamphier and Rosanne Welch, Editors
ABC Clio, 2017
4 volumes
Reference Section Call Number: HQ1410 .W6468 2017

This four-volume encyclopedia provides significantly more information on women’s role in American history than a typical reference book. In addition to hundreds of biographic entries - from Abigail Adams and Catherine Ferguson to Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga - it offers a lot of content on the history of feminism and women’s organizations from the 17th century through the present day.

Each section opens with a historical overview of the time period, covering gender roles and movements, legal issues, and other areas ranging from domestic violence to fashion.

The encyclopedia contains primary documents, such as women’s portraits, personal letters, newspaper articles, and recipes.

This is a great source for biographies, primary sources, and more.

Review by Svetlana Kondratenko, SWC Librarian