Product Description

In this work, Elizabeth Turner addresses a central question in post-Reconstruction social history: why did middle-class women expand their activities from the private to the public sphere and begin, in the years just before World War I, an unprecedented activism? Using Galveston as a case study, Turner examines how a generally conservative, traditional environment could produce important women's organizations for Progressive reform. She concludes that the women of Galveston, though slow to respond to national movements, were stirred to action on behalf of their local community. Local organizations, particularly Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, and traditional everyday social activities provided a nurturing environment for budding reformers, and a foundation for activist organizations and programs such as poor relief and progressive reform. Ultimately, women became politicized even as they continued their roles as guardians of traditional domestic values.

Women, Culture, and Community will appeal to scholars and students of the post-Reconstruction South, women's history, activist history, and religious history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1655015 in Books
• Published on: 1997-12-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780195119381
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
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Review

"This highly readable account reveals how significantly the effects of natural disaster can shape the relationship among politics, gender, and culture. An important contribution to women's history, southern history, and urban history."--Choice
"Scholars of many disciplines will find this work a valuable tool. It is thought-provoking, scholarly, and informative, and the summaries at the end of each chapter prove invaluable....Turner is to be commended for the depth of her research and her significant contribution to the field of history."--Catholic Southwest

About the Author

Elizabeth Hayes Turner is Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston-Downtown. She is currently Visiting Managing Editor of the Journal of Southern History.

Customer Reviews

Social, Local, Southern, Urban and Women's History Joined
This book was essential in writing my master's thesis. Why? The main reasons were how well written it is, how very detailed the descriptions of relationships between Galvestonian women are, and yet, how broad an audience (not just Texan historians) to whom this work speaks.

Turner describes in detail, and yet still concisely enough to keep the reader's undivided attention, how important pre-hurricane women's organizational structures became when Galveston crumbled post-storm. With death in the thousands and most local leaders killed, local government configuration disappeared. The social and civic aid of the women's organizations in the city had the experience to deal with the direct needs of people. Turner marvelously illustrates how these organizations soon became the life-blood of the city and essential to its resurrection. This is an excellent source for novice or historian, and comes highly recommended.