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Interesting Women of the Capital City
Most of the history of Jefferson City, Mo., has been told from the perspective of the men. Interesting Women of the Capital City offers a look at the women who made their own way in the first two centuries.
The 10 women featured range from Lydia Montague, who opened the first school for African-Americans in Jefferson City while it was still illegal before the end of the Civil War, to Jerena Giffen, the first female news bureau chief in the nation, who covered the 1954 Missouri State Penitentiary riot in evening-wear.
Other trailblazers include Ruth Rust, once the only woman in the nation to be the official photographer of a state General Assembly, and Hazel Teabeau, the first African-American to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Interesting Women of the Capital City also records the early suffrage work of Dolly Sheldon, the hotel operations of Emma Mathews,and the civil rights leadership of Estella Diggs.
Gambling Queen Belle Siddons made her own place in the nation's western romance. Grace Hershey gave her life in service to her country through the American Red Cross during World War I.
And, Sarah Standish's story is a reminder that despite multiple tragedy, women can remain dignified and compassionate.
Part of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Zonta Club of Jefferson City's Second Chance Scholarship. The work is dedicated to resilient women who make the best of whatever circumstances and opportunities befall them.
The 10 women featured range from Lydia Montague, who opened the first school for African-Americans in Jefferson City while it was still illegal before the end of the Civil War, to Jerena Giffen, the first female news bureau chief in the nation, who covered the 1954 Missouri State Penitentiary riot in evening-wear.
Other trailblazers include Ruth Rust, once the only woman in the nation to be the official photographer of a state General Assembly, and Hazel Teabeau, the first African-American to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Interesting Women of the Capital City also records the early suffrage work of Dolly Sheldon, the hotel operations of Emma Mathews,and the civil rights leadership of Estella Diggs.
Gambling Queen Belle Siddons made her own place in the nation's western romance. Grace Hershey gave her life in service to her country through the American Red Cross during World War I.
And, Sarah Standish's story is a reminder that despite multiple tragedy, women can remain dignified and compassionate.
Part of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Zonta Club of Jefferson City's Second Chance Scholarship. The work is dedicated to resilient women who make the best of whatever circumstances and opportunities befall them.
103 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2021
About the author
Michelle Brooks
7 booksMichelle Brooks has enjoyed writing since
before she could read, pretending to fill
pages of notebooks with swirls. In the
sixth grade, her book Pop Goes the Popcorn! (illustrated
by Renessa Bottom Wiggins) won her a trip to a
young author’s conference. During high school, she
provided copy for the local newspaper, the Carthage
Press, about her school’s activities.
Her first published work was a poem in her
college English department’s annual magazine.
It became apparent that her strength was in
nonfiction, and Michelle returned to newspapers,
writing for the college newspaper and then for the Daily Dunklin Democrat in
Kennett, the Monroe City News and the Current Local in Van Buren.
Her skills improved immensely due to the influence of editors at the
Jefferson City News Tribune, to which nineteen years’ experience with Central
Missouri Newspapers Inc. and more than one hundred newspaper industry
awards can attest.
The interest in history matured later. Michelle became a student of
Jefferson City history when given the historic preservation beat at the News
Tribune. Her appreciation for the impacts of local history on present-day
events grew over the years.
Since studying anthropology and history at Lincoln University, Jefferson
City, Michelle has worked on larger research projects, including identification
of members of the Sixty-Second U.S. Colored Troops, founders of Lincoln
University;and discovering the broad and pioneering career of her grandfather
Harry “HAP” Peebles, who was a country music promoter across the Midwest
from 1938 to 1993.
Hidden History of Jefferson City was her first book, released in July 2021.
She also has self-published Interesting Women of the Capital City, highlighting
10 women from pre-Civil War to the 21st century, whose stories have never been
fully told.
Her next book with The History Press will be Lost Jefferson City in 2022.
She is currently working on Blue Tigers in the Air, about students and faculty from
Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps
during World War II among the first Tuskegee Airmen
before she could read, pretending to fill
pages of notebooks with swirls. In the
sixth grade, her book Pop Goes the Popcorn! (illustrated
by Renessa Bottom Wiggins) won her a trip to a
young author’s conference. During high school, she
provided copy for the local newspaper, the Carthage
Press, about her school’s activities.
Her first published work was a poem in her
college English department’s annual magazine.
It became apparent that her strength was in
nonfiction, and Michelle returned to newspapers,
writing for the college newspaper and then for the Daily Dunklin Democrat in
Kennett, the Monroe City News and the Current Local in Van Buren.
Her skills improved immensely due to the influence of editors at the
Jefferson City News Tribune, to which nineteen years’ experience with Central
Missouri Newspapers Inc. and more than one hundred newspaper industry
awards can attest.
The interest in history matured later. Michelle became a student of
Jefferson City history when given the historic preservation beat at the News
Tribune. Her appreciation for the impacts of local history on present-day
events grew over the years.
Since studying anthropology and history at Lincoln University, Jefferson
City, Michelle has worked on larger research projects, including identification
of members of the Sixty-Second U.S. Colored Troops, founders of Lincoln
University;and discovering the broad and pioneering career of her grandfather
Harry “HAP” Peebles, who was a country music promoter across the Midwest
from 1938 to 1993.
Hidden History of Jefferson City was her first book, released in July 2021.
She also has self-published Interesting Women of the Capital City, highlighting
10 women from pre-Civil War to the 21st century, whose stories have never been
fully told.
Her next book with The History Press will be Lost Jefferson City in 2022.
She is currently working on Blue Tigers in the Air, about students and faculty from
Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps
during World War II among the first Tuskegee Airmen
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