Ladies Were Not Expected: Abigail Scott Duniway and Women's Rights

by Dorothy Nafus Morrison

A biography of the leader of the women's suffrage movement in Oregon.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography

146 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1971

About the author

American author, mainly of children's novels. Born in Iowa. She worked as a music teacher before turning to writing books in the 1960s. Her children's books include three horse stories. She also wrote biographies, including those of historical figures who were important to the Women's and Indian Rights movements.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Objectively, it may be what some consider a 'dry' read. Pretty much a straightforward biography with an 'and then this happened' structure. Fortunately the much of the source material is from the subject herself, and it's concisely written, and there are relatively lots of photos. History is not my favorite genre, but I was so engaged by this that I did finish it in one bedtime session. And I learned a lot. The details of the laws against women were even more horrifying than some of the stuff that I had already learned in 'intro to Women's Studies' type classes.

One thing I learned is that Horace Greeley, to whom "Go West, young man!" is attributed, was very much anti-slavery, and very much anti-women's emancipation, too. More here: https://blog.newspapers.library.in.go...

I am even motivated to consider more reads about the suffragists.
Some sources are listed in the bibliography, but they seem more for research than for further reading. I think I'll stick to the list in the Children's Books group.

[Amaryah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine, but clearly a juvenile book and very simple. However I had never really heard much about Abigail Scott Duniway so this was a nice intro to her life and work. I felt like the writing could have gone a bit deeper, but fine for younger readers.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about an icon of the women's suffrage movement.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My paperback edition was published by Western Reprint "The Press of the Oregon Historical Society" in 1985.
This is a very simple, gentle biography of the suffrage champion Abigail Duniway.
The story follows her family following the Oregon Trail from Illinois and her eventual move with her own family to Portland Oregon in the 1870's.
A very easy, short read of interest to readers interested in early Oregon history and the suffrage movement mainly in the Pacific NW.

[Cws]

J92Dun