Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West
by
Lesley Poling-Kempes (Goodreads Author)
From the 1880s to the 1950s, the Harvey Girls went west to work in Fred Harvey's restaurants along the Santa Fe railway. At a time when there were "no ladies west of Dodge City and no women west of Albuquerque," they came as waitresses, but many stayed and settled, founding the struggling cattle and mining towns that dotted the region. Interviews, historical research, and...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
July 4th 1994
by Da Capo Press
(first published 1989)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
178)
Although repetitive in many places this was an interesting history intertwining history of the Santa Fe Trail and the railroad that followed it into the West. Along its tracks, Fred Harvey established lunchrooms, dining rooms and Harvey Houses in which he employed many on the staffs. The most visible of these employees were the young women who waited the tables or tended the lunchroom counters. Unfortunately, the history of the earliest of these women is lost to time but many of those who served...more
I picked up a copy of this book while I was at the Grand Canyon this spring (since we ate all of our meals at a Harvey hotel -- El Tovar). We also drove through many of the little railroad towns that are discussed in this book (e.g. Kingman, Seligman, etc.)
The history of Harvey's establishment and the first person accounts from Harvey employees were quite interesting. I can't help but wonder what it must have been like to be a 16 year old girl leaving my Kansas home to take a train to a desert...more
The history of Harvey's establishment and the first person accounts from Harvey employees were quite interesting. I can't help but wonder what it must have been like to be a 16 year old girl leaving my Kansas home to take a train to a desert...more
In the 1860s on, Fred Harvey envisioned a series of restaurants and hotels spread along the Santa Fe Railroad that would give the traveler a sense of comfort and security in a still wild portion of America. The Harvey Girls served as waitresses and were important part of American history in that they were some of the first women to settle in the west (A saying of the time was "No ladies west of Dodge City. No women west of Albuquerque") and they became the new symbol for the working single woman...more
I had not heard of the "Harvey Girls" until my neighbor loaned me this book. Interesting account of how the train systems developed from Missouri to California. Even more interesting how an English immigrant named Fred Harvey realized all those people traveling by train would be stopping at train depots and would need a place to get a good meal. He had high standards. He built restaurants and hotels, hired mostly young women as waitresses, and this book tells their story. A good book with a smal...more
Another book influenced by our trip to the Southwest. After staying at the Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon I wanted to know more about the women who would leave their homes & move West. Interestingly, this book draws parallels to the girls that worked in the Lowell Mills in Mass. Belles of New England isn't referenced, but is a wonderful portrayal of life as a Mill Girl.
I finished this book & am really glad that I took the time to dig a little deeper into the "wo...more
I finished this book & am really glad that I took the time to dig a little deeper into the "wo...more
This portrait of the 100,000 Harvey Girls who moved to the Southwest and West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is a wonderful piece of research and an important historical document. However, the organization and editing of the book leaves something to be desired--Poling-Kempes improved her skills significantly (or she got a much better editor!) between this book and the fascinating "Ghost Ranch".
This was a great read! I have been trying to read more non-fiction lately. With that in mind, I learned alot from this book. It was very interesting to read about the advent of the railroad and the adventerous women that went west with it. It was enjoyable to read about the southwest and the original Harvey Houses we have in Northern Arizona.
I enjoyed this book. It provided a historic look at the Santa Fe trail, the beginnings of the Sante Fe railroad, and Fred Harvey and the establishments he created along the railroad's route. The author interviewed many women and men who worked for the Harvey House Restaurants. The interviews were interspersed within the story of the foundings, heydays, and decline of each area/facility.
Very good book. It told the story of the Harvey Girls in the Midwest. If I remember correctly, the author said the Harvey Girls really did tame the west. I did love this book.
Not particularly well written--some parts were repetitive. However, the information provided was really interesting. Part of recent history that I was unaware of.
after visiting the harvey house in winslow, az, fun to read how women civilized the west.
I would have liked to have been a Harvey Girl. On my list for time travel visit sites!
Interesting history of the ATSF Railroad opened the book. The first-hand stories of the Harvey Girls were entertaining and light. Sparked an interest in reading more of the history of the railroads' expansion across the country.
wonderful reading!
Aug 12, 2012
Jon McDonald
added it
Very interesting as I live in Santa Fe and it sheds light on the history of Santa Fe. Very sad to read about the destruction of some the the great grand hotels torn down later.
This book brought back lots of train memories for me. Lots of the book was about a time before I was born, but I do remember some of what it talks about. Fun to remember good old days sometimes. I really do have fond memories of the big train trips my family took when I was a kid.
Traveled to Santa Fe NM via train and picked this book up. Am looking forward to learning more. Saw several of the buildings pictured from my window.
Picked this book up in the Grand Canyon and am glad I did. Not the most well written book, but it does a good job of making a history lesson interesting.
The details of how the Harvey Girls operated are fascinating. I like the juxtaposition of their elegance against the dusty, newly settled west.
Feb 16, 2008
Debra
added it
This was written by an author that writes around Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.
Jun 15, 2013
Robin
marked it as to-read
Jun 08, 2013
Kimberly
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Katie Bernacchi
marked it as to-read
Apr 27, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Jun 08, 2013
Veronica Johnson
is currently reading it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Jun 11, 2013 10:43am