Exploring American Girlhood through 50 Historic Treasures

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Pub Date Apr 15 2021 | Archive Date Apr 15 2021

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Description

Exploring American Girls’ History through 50 Historic Treasures showcases girls and their experiences through the lens of place and material culture. Discover how the objects and sites that girls left behind tell stories about America that you have never heard before. Readers will journey from the first peoples who called the continent home, to 21st century struggles for civil rights, becoming immersed in stories that show how the local impacts the global and vice versa, as told by the girls who built America. Their stories, dreams, struggles, and triumphs are the centerpiece of the nation’s story as never before, helping to define both the struggle and meaning of being “American.”


Ashley E. Remer is the founder and Head Girl of Girl Museum—the first and only museum in the world dedicated to celebrating girlhood. She holds an MA in the History and Criticism of Art from the University of Auckland. For over two decades, Ashley has worked as an art historian, curator, writer, and editor internationally. She has collaborated with artists, NGOs, scholars, educators, and girls across the globe showcasing girl culture to raise awareness and promote social change. Her research focuses on girlhood in various local and global contexts. She is currently working on her PhD at the Australian National University and is the co-chair of the Girls’ History and Culture Network with the Society for the History of Children and Youth (SHCY). 

Tiffany R. Isselhardt serves as Girl Museum’s Program Developer, where she oversees exhibitions, podcasts, community outreach, and social media. She holds a Master’s in Public History from Appalachian State University, and has worked with the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, Theodore Roosevelt Center, Museum Hack, and the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University. Her research focuses on uncovering the hidden history of girls in order to advocate for gender equality, and how museums can better interpret and provide programming inclusive of girls’ unique history and culture. She has presented on girlhood at several conferences, including the International Girl Studies Association and the National Council on Public History, and enjoys working at the intersections of history, material culture, and girl studies.

Exploring American Girls’ History through 50 Historic Treasures showcases girls and their experiences through the lens of place and material culture. Discover how the objects and sites that girls...


A Note From the Publisher

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This is a set of uncorrected page proofs. It is not a finished book and is not expected to look like one. Errors in spelling, page length, format and so forth will all be corrected by the time the book is published several months from now. Photos and diagrams, which may be included in the finished book, may not be included in this format. Uncorrected proofs are primarily useful so that you, the reader, might know months before actual publication what the author and publisher are offering. If you plan to quote the text in your review, you must check it with the publicist or against the final version. Please contact reviews@rowman.com with any questions. Thank you!

This title views best in tablet-style eReaders.
This is a set of uncorrected page proofs. It is not a finished book and is not expected to look like one. Errors in spelling, page length, format and...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781538120897
PRICE $33.00 (USD)

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Average rating from 8 members


Featured Reviews

Material history so often gets left out of a lot of historiography; this book does an excellent job of situating artifacts back into their proper importance. There were some sources here that I was familiar with, others not. This is a book that can be read from cover to cover or non-sequentially. I can imagine many undergrad classes using this volume to shed light on the changing nature of girlhood within the wider context of American history. I teach at an all girls' school and would definitely use some of this as an entry point into some of the historical developments of the time. The entries are tightly written, containing good background and explanation, but leave room for readers to do a little more exploring or investigate the context surrounding these objects. The book also does a great job of being inclusive of all American girls, not just middle class white culture.

A fun, worthwhile read

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3. 5 Although I think the title is a little misleading, this book does trace women's status and accomplishments throughout many years. Starting with the Cahokia mounds to our present days, the book mentions women who accomplished much at times when it was thought they had little power. Some I had heard of, many I didn't.

In 1777 Sybil Ludington completed a dirty mile midnight ride to muster troops to fight against the encroaching British army. Most of us have heard about Paul Revere but Sylvia who actually accomplished a greater rest was buried in history.

Ida Lewis, lighthouse keeper in 1842, barely a hundred pounds, would rescue men, twice her weight, from drowning. President Grant would visit her lighthouse in Rhode Island. She saved between 23 and 40 people, though her rescues were never recorded.

The sections are divided into sections, brief histories of the time period and then women who exceeded or carved out their own futures. Dominique Dawes, the black gymnast who became the first to win a bronze metal in the Olympics. Her leotard now on display at the Smithsonian.

Colored illustrations begin each section. A fantastic book for reading during Women's Month. I think it's just wonderful that more and more the long forgotten or buried accomplishments of women are being discovered and written for the world to acknowledge.

ARC from Netgalley.

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The history of America is easily found in books, the internet, journals, etc. The history of American girls, however, is usually overlooked. This book challenges that, with a list (and details) about important historic items or assets left behind by girls.

From the first black baby doll to the queen Barbie herself, these object were loved. What I found most interesting were the photos and letters. This shows the girls voice and the power that they had, even at a young age. The chapter on Japanese Internment was particular a standout for me.

I do think that the children of the 80's and 90's were left out a bit - why mention Seventeen Magazine and not mention Sassy. Sassy was the anti-Seventeen and was such a force for so many young girls.

Still - this is an excellent book/list/future textbook? I can only hope that another young girl can pick this up and make it into a documentary. :)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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