Women's Life and Work in the Southern Colonies

by Julia Cherry Spruill, Anne Firor Scott (Introduction)

Out of a wealth of documentation, and often from the words of the people themselves, Spruill's account brings these women's lives out of the shadows-opening a usable past that was not there before. In the words of Arthur Schlesinger, Sr., it is "an important contribution to social history to which students will constantly turn."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

464 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1972

Reviews

[Carol Bro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for those who write about Colonial America.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating, detailed study of colonial life before the Revolutionary War. This finds women (at least those whose records survive) much more active capable and involved than I may have expected. There is a lot about recipes, housekeeping, dress, entertainment. There is a lot on marriage realities around marriage contracts, the legal rule or property favoring the husband, criminal law including handling witchcraft, and the legal possibilities for the widow. There is also an examination of instances of professional women as "Shopkeepers and Artisans" and "Tavern Hostess and Planters."

The topic of women in medicine starts to bubble up, hinting at an exclusion fought against by strong-willed, accomplished actors I read about in The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine That Changed Women's Lives Forever:

The employment of men as midwives, however, was vehemently denounced as a pernicious fashion, dangerous to the life of mother and child and destructive of female modesty. A "LETTER on the present State of MIDWIFERY" printed in the Virginia Gazette, October 1, 1772, expressed what appears to have been a rather general feeling. The writer argued that since "Labour is Nature's Work," no more art is necessary in assisting women than is taught by experience, and asked, "If Men-Midwives were requisite to bring Children into the World, what would become of the Wilds of America, the Plains of Africa?" Furthermore, he declared, "Women are infinitely safer than men," and continued: "It is a notorious fact that more Children have been lost since Women were so scandalously indecent as to employ Men than for Ages before that Practice became so general. [Women midwives] never dream of having recourse to Force; the barbarous, bloody Crochet, never stained their Hands with Murder.... A long unimpassioned Practice, early commenced, and calmly pursued is absolutely requisite to give Men by Art, what Women attain by Nature." Finally, he argued, the familiarities taken by men in attending pregnant women and those in labor are "sufficient to taint the Purity, and sully the Chastity, of any Woman breathing," and concluded with this pronouncement, "True Modesty is incompatible with the Idea of employing a MAN-MIDWIFE.

[Kristin Nare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal job was done by the author in finding and putting together all this info, in an age when it was much more challenging in some ways than today. This is a treasure trove of info on the Southern Colonial woman, and an enjoyable read.

[Amy Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw many references to this work when I was trying to find out more about the women who came to Jamestown as "tobacco brides" (men paid in tobacco for their passage before marrying them). In a 1997 introduction, Anne Firor Scott explains the significance of this book published in 1938. The fact that the author was not recognized as an historian until late in life and after her death echos one of the themes of the book (and so many books about women).

It was interesting to read that in spite of many difficulties, women in the colonies had more opportunities than their peers in England.

The chapter "The Lady's Library" about books written (mainly by men) about proper feminine behavior was one of my favorites, along with "Women Wanted" about the tobacco brides and other initiatives to bring women to the colonies.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study of Colonial Lives of women. This book is used as study material for Colonial Williamsburg.

[Reeds]

Actually, bought need to read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical information from original sources!