Comstock Women: The Making Of A Mining Community

by Ronald M. James (Editor)

When it comes to Nevada history, men get most of the ink. Comstock Women is a collection of 14 historical studies that helps to rectify that reality. The authors of these essays, who include some of Nevada’s most prominent historians, demographers, and archaeologists, explore such topics as women and politics, jobs, and ethnic groups. Their work goes far in refuting the exaggerated popular images of women in early mining towns as dance hall girls or prostitutes. Relying primarily on newspapers, court decisions, census records, as well as sparse personal diaries and records left by the woman, the essayists have resurrected the lives of the women who lived on the Comstock during the boom years.

Genres: Nonfiction

406 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

Ronald M. James is the author or co-author of ten books, and he received the Wilbur S. Shepperson Humanities Book Award in 1998. His articles on history, folklore, and archaeology have appeared in six countries, and he has lectured on western history throughout the nation. James also lectures occasionally at the University of Nevada, Reno in history and folklore. He is the chairman of the National Historic Landmarks Committee for the National Park Service, and he served as Nevada’s State Historic Preservation Officer for three decades.

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole I enjoyed this. When it came to specific chapter topics and how they were covered, some of the choices made puzzled me, and I finally decided some of these choices were dictated by what else is out there.

For example, one thing that bothered me, in more than one essay, was the claim that Virginia City prostitutes had been misrepresented in modern literature, without really pinning down how. In the article specifically discussing how authors created a Virginia City mythos, historian Bernard DeVoto is quoted as saying Virginia City prostitutes "drove through the streets reclining in lacquered broughams, displaying to male eyes fashions as close to Paris as any then current in New York." The Comstock Women author laconically points out, "The image is far from accurate."

The very next chapter tells us that high-class prostitutes in Virginia City lived an extraordinarily good lifestyle, compared to the average prostitute in the West, and even mid-status prostitutes like Julia Bulette had a two room home. "In the parlor was a carved black walnut set made up of a sofa, two rocking chairs, four matching chairs, several unmatched cane-seated chairs arranged around a stove, lace curtains, hanging gas lamps, a carpet, and a spittoon. The bedroom was furnished with a small wood box stove, a mahogany bedstead, two wash basins, two spittoons, coal oil lamps, damask curtains, window shades, fancy bedspreads, white lace curtains, and rugs. Cothing included several silk, linen, and cotton dresses; skirts; a riding habit; chemises; drawers; women's shoes and hats, corsets and stockings. Other personal belongings included a box of hair, a parasol, and several pieces of jewelry. The personal belongings in general are less abundant, diverse, and costly than were those found at better brothels and parlors."

Compared to your average pioneer, or your average prostitute in the West (many of whom lived in physically deplorable conditions), these women were living in the lap of luxury. And if Julia Bulette wasn't riding around "reclining in [a] lacquered brougham," she was wealthy enough to own a riding habit, which many Western women couldn't afford (or choose not to spend the money on, throwing on breeches below a regular dress for riding around home, and taking in a wagon or otherwise using a method not requiring a riding habit when going to town). I'm assuming the Bernard DeVoto quote was condemned because it made it sound like the prostitutes were broadly accepted, or because it's a bit too luxe, but really I have no idea in what sense it was "far from accurate."

To be fair, the introductory chapter pretty much says that Marion Goldman's Gold Diggers and Silver Miners covers Virginia City prostitution, and elsewhere I seem to remember authors saying, "I'm not going to go into it because she did," and this is true of a few other issues, too, where the authors dismiss certain aspects of their subject with either a mention or a footnote directing the reader elsewhere. Going on the books it mentions that I already own, as a resource for resources, this book is brilliant.

But as a general over view of women in the Comstock area from 1859-1890 or so, I thought it a little off kilter. People with a good background in the time and place are going to find it much more useful than the casual reader looking for information on that particular sub-topic, is my guess.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

An historical study of the women who were involved in every aspect of the Virginia City mining community of the 1800's. It looks at the wives, female miners, prostitutes, business owners (of stores, boarding houses, eating establishments, bordello's), spiriualits, and of course the Daughter's of Charity. It studies the different ethnic backgrounds and what guided them to certain fields of work whether it was hat making, laundry work, prostitutes, cleaning, etc. The complexity of life beyond the men and the mines that women were a strong part of and are usually ignored. The Daughter's of Charity with their hospital and orphanage, the wives with their service organizations, the schools and more. It makes the hard life that these women led become real to today's reader. The topic of drug abuse as women could cure or make tolerable their illnesses/life with opium which unlike drinking could be done in private with no one the wiser.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting. Needed editing. It was repetitive.

[Ash Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable collection of essays on the topic of women, gender, and sexuality in 19th/early 20th century Virginia City and surrounding areas.

[Gregory Crouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting essays in here.