Meredith! This is such a great essay, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Earlier this year I read the historical novel "The Boxcar Librarian," and though I don't remember the exact details, in one scene the librarian visits a homesteading mother and her children, who lost their father/husband years ago. The mother is exhausted and, because the librarian and her team are documenting Western families' stories for a new newspaper, asks the librarian something along the lines of, "Please don't make this look glorious." She was doing rough, backbreaking work on the daily, and she wanted other Americans to see that. Really stuck with me.
Meredith! This is such a great essay, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Earlier this year I read the historical novel "The Boxcar Librarian," and though I don't remember the exact details, in one scene the librarian visits a homesteading mother and her children, who lost their father/husband years ago. The mother is exhausted and, because the librarian and her team are documenting Western families' stories for a new newspaper, asks the librarian something along the lines of, "Please don't make this look glorious." She was doing rough, backbreaking work on the daily, and she wanted other Americans to see that. Really stuck with me.
That's so kind, Adrianna! Thank you! And yes, nothing glorious about it. Life back then was HARD.
Good read. Recommend the book “Cowgirls: Women of the American West” by Teresa Jordan.
I have it on my shelf!
Absolutely LOVE this.
Great post! This weekend, I'm alternating between reading Kindred and reading Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey, ed. Lillian Schlissel
Enjoy! I have slowly been reading through Schlissel's book as well!