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Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon
As a pioneer woman educator, Mary Rippon received wide acclaim for her teaching, but in order to keep her job, she hid her husband and child behind a Victorian curtain of secrecy. Now, for the first time, "Separate The Story of Mary Rippon" reveals the conflicts between this extraordinary woman's public and private lives.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1999
8 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Silvia Pettem
34 books6 followersSilvia Pettem (www.silviapettem.com) is a longtime historical researcher, newspaper columnist, and author of more than twenty books. Just released is IN SEARCH OF THE BLONDE TIGRESS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ELEANOR JARMAN.
After decades of work for individuals and governments, her life took a new turn in 1996, when she stumbled upon the gravestone of a Jane Doe –– a murder victim from 1954. Pettem then applied her research skills to both old-fashioned detective work and the power of the internet by entering into a partnership with her local sheriff and with forensic experts of the Vidocq Society to successfully determine the young woman's identity. Pettem chronicled their work in "Someone's Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe," recently republished as an "Updated Edition."
After decades of work for individuals and governments, her life took a new turn in 1996, when she stumbled upon the gravestone of a Jane Doe –– a murder victim from 1954. Pettem then applied her research skills to both old-fashioned detective work and the power of the internet by entering into a partnership with her local sheriff and with forensic experts of the Vidocq Society to successfully determine the young woman's identity. Pettem chronicled their work in "Someone's Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe," recently republished as an "Updated Edition."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 24, 2012
Absolutely fascinating.
November 15, 2009
This does NOT contain spoilers because the whole storyline is revealed in the first chapter of the book! You just get the details in the rest of the book!
I first saw this book when touring CU with Zach the summer before his freshman year. It peaked my interest because it was about an early woman professor at the University. I came from a University with some history on NOT allowing women as students, let alone teachers. Mary Rippon grew up in Illinois, but was attracted to CU by her former high school teacher, then CU President, Dr Sewell. She started teaching the second semester that CU existed, and eventually became the chair of the German language department. How cool is that!?!
If that wasn't enough accomplishment, especially at the time, she did it while hiding a secret family. She had an affair with a student, got pregnant, got married and delivered a child while on sabbatical in Germany. She went back to teaching, leaving husband/father and baby behind in Europe. They both eventually came back to Boulder, but continued to live secret and separate lives. Ultimately, that ended the marriage, and he remarried while she continued teaching. While her salary was much lower than the male professors (because she didn't need to support a family, after all), she was doing EXACTLY that. Paying child support for her daughter and funding education and livelihood for her ex-husband's new family. Amazing!
I feel there is some significance to this story that I can't quite put my finger on. I feel like it is around her choice to continue teaching over parenting, especially in that day and age. (After all, just being married would normally have required that she stop teaching!) She clearly had a lot to give to more than just her own daughter, but I can't imagine myself doing the same thing to that degree.
I first saw this book when touring CU with Zach the summer before his freshman year. It peaked my interest because it was about an early woman professor at the University. I came from a University with some history on NOT allowing women as students, let alone teachers. Mary Rippon grew up in Illinois, but was attracted to CU by her former high school teacher, then CU President, Dr Sewell. She started teaching the second semester that CU existed, and eventually became the chair of the German language department. How cool is that!?!
If that wasn't enough accomplishment, especially at the time, she did it while hiding a secret family. She had an affair with a student, got pregnant, got married and delivered a child while on sabbatical in Germany. She went back to teaching, leaving husband/father and baby behind in Europe. They both eventually came back to Boulder, but continued to live secret and separate lives. Ultimately, that ended the marriage, and he remarried while she continued teaching. While her salary was much lower than the male professors (because she didn't need to support a family, after all), she was doing EXACTLY that. Paying child support for her daughter and funding education and livelihood for her ex-husband's new family. Amazing!
I feel there is some significance to this story that I can't quite put my finger on. I feel like it is around her choice to continue teaching over parenting, especially in that day and age. (After all, just being married would normally have required that she stop teaching!) She clearly had a lot to give to more than just her own daughter, but I can't imagine myself doing the same thing to that degree.
February 5, 2014
I read this book after a recomendation from a former University teacher, whose interest in the roles of women through history and very specially in science and education has often been a source of really engaging infomation which led to becoming acquinted with fascinating new personages.
This is one of those occasions.
The story of Mary Rippon is worth reading.
This unique woman who put her career in a first place, making personal sacrifices which hardly anyone in her time would be likely to believe possible, and led a life dedicated to teaching while providing for a family she could not publicly acknowledge.
The book itself is quite short and the style is simple but not plain, which grants an easy read.
Even so, it's a complete biography and an interesting approach to the secret life of Mary Rippon, which was not known years after her death.
I also appreciate that the author does not make up facts, so when something is not known it remains as uncertain and a feasible explanation is given -instead of being simply fictionalized as often happens with this kind of biographies. It feels honest.
One can just hope that it builds awareness of how little the world has changed ever since Mary Rippon hid one of her separate lives.
This is one of those occasions.
The story of Mary Rippon is worth reading.
This unique woman who put her career in a first place, making personal sacrifices which hardly anyone in her time would be likely to believe possible, and led a life dedicated to teaching while providing for a family she could not publicly acknowledge.
The book itself is quite short and the style is simple but not plain, which grants an easy read.
Even so, it's a complete biography and an interesting approach to the secret life of Mary Rippon, which was not known years after her death.
I also appreciate that the author does not make up facts, so when something is not known it remains as uncertain and a feasible explanation is given -instead of being simply fictionalized as often happens with this kind of biographies. It feels honest.
One can just hope that it builds awareness of how little the world has changed ever since Mary Rippon hid one of her separate lives.
November 9, 2013
I usually enjoy reading historical accounts, and this did not disappoint. What's even better, when the author couldn't fill in the blanks with passages from the subject's diary or from other sources, she gave us choices of well, this may have happened, or this or this. So it became a kind of blend of history and speculation.
The sacrifices Mary Rippon made undoubtedly paved the way for all women to follow, but the daughter and husband she had to live without also sacrificed a great deal. I really felt terrible for them. No wonder her daughter had the personality she did. Who wouldn't after what she went through? Mary's upbringing was far from typical too. Did that cause her to be willing to lead these separate lives? At the time, women couldn't be wives, mothers and teachers. They had to choose work or family. In this case her daughter paid a huge price.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the surroundings of the area, and the beautiful poetry that was included.
The sacrifices Mary Rippon made undoubtedly paved the way for all women to follow, but the daughter and husband she had to live without also sacrificed a great deal. I really felt terrible for them. No wonder her daughter had the personality she did. Who wouldn't after what she went through? Mary's upbringing was far from typical too. Did that cause her to be willing to lead these separate lives? At the time, women couldn't be wives, mothers and teachers. They had to choose work or family. In this case her daughter paid a huge price.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the surroundings of the area, and the beautiful poetry that was included.
January 5, 2014
I was aware that the outdoor theatre at CU was named for Mary Rippon, but didn't know who she was until I read a short chapter on her in Colorado's Legendary Lovers. I was so intrigued by that brief account that I wanted to read a whole book about her.
Society in the late 19th century forced women into narrow roles, and Mary Rippon chose not to go along with expectations, even at the risk of public scandal and her career as a CU professor. How amazing it is that her secret life was kept hidden not only during her lifetime but for decades thereafter! Her story is both tragic, because of the sacrifices made by her and those close to her, and thrilling, because of her courage as a talented woman in a man's world, trying to be true to herself. The account is well-paced and well-written, and reveals much interesting material about early Boulder as well as about Mary Rippon. This would make a terrific movie!
Society in the late 19th century forced women into narrow roles, and Mary Rippon chose not to go along with expectations, even at the risk of public scandal and her career as a CU professor. How amazing it is that her secret life was kept hidden not only during her lifetime but for decades thereafter! Her story is both tragic, because of the sacrifices made by her and those close to her, and thrilling, because of her courage as a talented woman in a man's world, trying to be true to herself. The account is well-paced and well-written, and reveals much interesting material about early Boulder as well as about Mary Rippon. This would make a terrific movie!
October 10, 2024
This was a fairly good (considering the lack of first hand reports) biography of Professor Mary Rippon, one of the first professors at CU Boulder. Her life was shocking but clearly full of compassion, as she took care of many people financially and in secret. If you have interest in the history of CU Boulder or the state of women professors in the US in the 19th century, this would be a good read.
December 27, 2015
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I knew nothing about this lovely lady before reading the book. She had a very fascinating life filled with her independence and her ability to educate her students in a very memorable way. She also made a great sacrifice having to keep her private life secret. She gave up so much for her teaching career. Her daughter was finally , as an adult able to connect with her but always felt of her mother as an aunt. It seemed they did form a relationship but with a feeling of distance between them. keeping their true feelings secret. The story was factual as to the information available. many things probably will never be known in detail but even so, we as readers , have a glimpse of this lady's life and the cruelty of society for placing this burden upon her. Hopefully these expectations are changing. women are now able to peruse careers and also marry and be parents. This however, didn't really start changing until the 1970's. There is still much work and education of the public to be more supportive of women and their many obligations as well as the expansion of family leave for pregnancy, birth and caring for the newborn.
May 3, 2015
"Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon" by Silvia Pettem was an interesting novel. In my opinion, she was too self-less. Yes, Will was the caretaker of her only child, but she went above and beyond to support him and his new family. In light of Miriam's unhappiness, she was a poor mother. She was an excellent educator and very caring her students, but to her own child she "bought" her instead of risking losing her job if the administration found out she was married and had a child.
January 3, 2016
I loved how the author was able to research documents as well as using the personal diary of Mary Rippon to make a detailed book about her life. Amazing how she was able to keep two very different lives separate and keep it (mostly) a secret for her whole life. Even more amazing that the few people that did know about it were able to keep the secret.
For just being a narrative and written like a story, it was well written and kept my attention. Couldn't put it down!
For just being a narrative and written like a story, it was well written and kept my attention. Couldn't put it down!
September 16, 2012
A great book, very well written. Is a fascinating insight into the life of women when rules were different. For example, if a woman got married she was supposed to stop working. This is about one of the early heroines.
March 9, 2014
Enjoyed the story and do understand the difference that the times presented to the life of this woman, but absolutely disagreed with her decision to keep herself so removed from her daughter's life. That decision came back to haunt her - and her daughter.
February 8, 2013
ww scandll and intrigue was great book
October 26, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews