More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Michigan Women

The women represented in this book hail from every corner of Michigan. The book describes not only the women, but various locations and landmarks. Chapter One is about a woman who shaped the early days of trade and business in Mackinac Island. Fabulous! It usually takes me awhile to read a book, but I'll be working through this one quickly. I can hardly put it down. Excellent!

"More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Michigan Women" by author, storyteller, and history buff Julia Peerdehirt profiles the lives of some truly remarkable and distinguished women. Each of these outstanding and influential women were born prior to 1915 and were key to the development of Michigan as the 26th state of the American union. From Magdelaine la Framboise (1780-1846), a Metis fur trader and entrepreneur who helped to build a community on Macinac Island; to Sara Emma Edmonds (1841-1898) who disguised herself as Frank Thompson and served as a soldier in the Civil War for two years as part of the 2nd Michigan Infantry; to Nancy Harkness Love (1944-1977) who was in her teens when she earned her pilot's license and went on to found the U.S. Army's Women's Auxiliary Ferrying division during World War II. Also featured are the life stories and accomplishments of Sojourner Truth, Laura Smith Haviland, Julie Wheelock Freeman, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Anna Howard Show, Rebecca Shelley, Ana Clemenc, Marguerite Lofti de Angeli, Gwen Frostic, and Rosa Parks. Each biographical profile is arranged in chronological order by birth date. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography, "More Than Petticoats" is a very strongly recommended addition to academic and community library biography collections, as well as student supplemental reading lists for Women's Studies, American History, and Michigan State History.