Generations
Generations
A Century of
Women Speak
about Their
Lives
Myriam Miedzian and Alisa Malinovich
The Atlantic Monthly Press
New York
Copyright 1997 by Myriam Miedzian and Alisa Malinovich
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Published simultaneously in Canada
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Miedzian, Myriam.
Generations : a century of women speak about their lives / Myriam
Miedzian and Alisa Malinovich.
p. cm.
eBook ISBN 978-0-8021-9278-3
1. WomenUnited StatesSocial conditions. 2. WomenUnited
StatesBiography. 3. WomenUnited StatesHistory.
I. Malinovich, Alisa. II. Title.
HQ1412.M47 1997
305.42092 273dc2197-9353
CIP
In some instances, names and details in this book have been changed to ensure privacy.
PHOTO CREDITS : Page 3: National Archives. Page 19, left to right: Archive Photos; Library of Congress, Marion Post Wolcott; Archive Photos; Photo courtesy of Adele Smith. Page 67, left to right: Magnum Photos, Inc. 1995 Henri Cartier Bresson; UPI/Corbis-Bettmann; Archive Photos/London Daily Express; Archive Photos. Page 137, left to right: Magnum Photos, Inc. 1993 Eli Reed; Archive Photos/LeGwin; Magnum Photos, Inc. 1985 Eugene Richards; Magnum Photos, Inc. 1988 Leonard Freed. Page 207: Magnum Photos, Inc. 1968 Costa Manos. Page 219, left to right: Corbis/Bettmann; Photo courtesy of Adele Smith; UPI/Corbis-Bettmann; Archive Photos. Page 261, left to right: Archive Photos/Lambert; Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Smith; Photo courtesy of Hettie Jones; Archive Photos. Page 323, left to right: Reuters/Lou Damatteis/Archive Photos; Archive Photos; Magnum Photos, Inc. 1990 Eugene Richards; Magnum Photos, Inc. 1995 Susan Mieselas. Page 387: Photo courtesy of Paul Fusco. Page 399, left to right: Archive Photos/Lambert; UPI/Corbis-Bettmann; Photo courtesy of Adele Smith; Archive Photos. Page 441, left to right: Archive Photos; Archive Photos/Lambert; Reuters/Corbis-Bettmann; Archive Photos/Express Newspapers. Page 495, left to right: UPI/Corbis-Bettmann; Magnum Photos, Inc. 1984 Eli Reed; Photo courtesy of Matthew Salacuse; The Stock Market, Michael Keller.
The Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
With gratitude to the women
who made this book possible
by sharing their stories
for Nadia
This book is divided into three main parts: Growing Up, Family, and Work. Each of these sections is in turn divided into three generational periods: The First Generation, women born from 1900 to the early 1930s; The Second Generation, women born from the mid 1930s to the early 1950s; The Third Generation, women born from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s. Throughout, longer stories are followed by a series of shorter stories grouped around common themes. In addition, the reader will find three life stories, each placed before the books three main parts.
Contents
A Life Story
I Never Knew We Were Poor
Bernice Stuart Snow
Growing Up:
The First Generation
Whitt Davenport
Laurine Warren Helen Schiffrin Dorothy Sommer Abigail Midgeley
Rebecca Rodin
Betsy Miller Hazel Akeroyd Jane Foley Betty Marin
Helene Weintraub Lillian Roth
Marguerite Rucker
Caroline Hodges Jane Foley
Jean Hughes
Laurine Warren Helene Weintraub Betsy Miller Caroline Hodges
Jane Winthrop
Abigail Midgeley Dorothy Sommer Rose Kramer Lucille Thornburgh
Jane Foley Laurine Warren Lucille Thornburgh Belle Riding
Lorraine Leroux
Growing Up:
The Second Generation
Hannah Mason
Sharon Goldberg Joanne Evans Anna Davis
Mimi Miller Amanda Johnson
Barbara Aoki
Beverly Butler Lavergneau Elana Wiseman
Mary Wong Leong Maria Rodriguez
Martha Corson
Suzanne Havercamp Alice Dumont Beverly Butler Lavergneau
Rachel Morgan Anna Davis Nancy Douglas Leslie Hampton
Rene Bailey Yolanda Casarez Beverly Butler Lavergneau
Sybil Jordan Hampton
Suzanne Havercamp Joanna Rubin Hettie Jones
Rita Curran
Mimi Miller Kathleen Ryan Ruth Mandel Dolores Valenti
Growing Up:
The Third Generation
The Real Live Thing
Christina Martin
Tiana Dao Mara Lavergneau Pixie Haughton Jen Rawls
Angela Walker Darleen Robinson Daniels Celeste Meyers Floy Bossinas
LaWanda Doss
Cora Sands Maggie Erwin Chrissy Robinson
Nichelle Ellison Lizette Arsuega
Lauren Morgan Stern Jillian Schwartz
Jenna Baker
Cora Sands Nancy Aldridge Marina Koob
Amy Goldberg
Nichelle Ellison Marquita Anderson Jillian Schwartz Jennifer Kramer Elizabeth Ives
Abby Soong
Jackie Preston Colleen McCarthy Angela Walker Amy Claire Deb Bruckner
Rachel Goldman Pat Jamison Sarah Wells Jennifer Kramer
A Life Story
You Ought To Be My All and All
Josie Gilchrist Anderson
Family:
The First Generation
The Second Marriage Was the Real Marriage,
Except We Never Married
Anne Ratner
Helene Weintraub Laurine Warren Helen Schiffrin Dorothy Sommer
Linda Pesso
Rose Kramer Whitt Davenport Bernice Stuart Snow Winifred Williams
Abigail Midgeley
Cynthia Bowles Caroline Hodges Sally Evans Dorothy Sommer
Belle Riding
Jean Hughes Abigail Midgeley Betty Marin
Betsy Miller Cynthia Bowles
Family:
The Second Generation
Miyako Moriki
Priscilla Lynch Nancy Douglas Alice Dumont Mimi Miller Lisa Drake
Rachel Morgan
Kate Merrill Kathleen Ryan Maria Rodriguez Isadora Damon
Leslie Hampton
Joan Herbert Dolores Valenti Molly Hermel Marie Solerno
Martha Everett
Suzanne Havercamp Nancy Douglas Frances Smith Foster Yolanda Casarez
Ruth Mandel Elana Wiseman Julia Parker
Susan Willard
Hettie Jones Melinda Stratton Janet Moore
Beverly Butler Lavergneau Amanda Johnson
Family:
The Third Generation
Gina Rotundo
Marianne Pages Robin Vaccai-Yess June Wood
Robin Vaccai-Yess Margaret White
JoAnn Jansen
Roberta Flaherty Chrissy Robinson Katherine Millard
Jill Ladaine Julie Harris Melinda Steinberg
Wendy Gardner
Pat Jamison Kim Faggins Lizette Arsuega
Dana Coroff
Sarah Miller Joanna Katz Lauren Morgan Stern Cindy Aspromonte
Abby Soong Margaret White Marquita Anderson
Katrina Thomas Elizabeth Ives
A Life Story
How Did Someone Like You Get Elected?
Dorothy Gonzales
Work:
The First Generation
Janet Mary Riley
Betsy Miller Rosa Keller Nadine Williams Caroline Hodges
Lucille Thornburgh
Hazel Akeroyd Dorothy Sommer Laurine Warren Marguerite Rucker Rose Kramer
Margaret Veller
Winifred Williams Jean Hughes Anne Plettinger Lillian Roth
Work:
The Second Generation
Leslie Hampton
Lois Mayer Sharon Goldberg Julia Parker
Rosalind Cropper
Alice Dumont Kate Merrill Kathleen Ryan
Elizabeth Russell
Suzanne Havercamp Josie Gilchrist Anderson Mimi Miller
Anna Davis
Why Are You Doing That Kind of Work
Maria Rodriguez Isadora Damon Yolanda Casarez Teddy Rod Kathleen Ryan
Katrina Martha Swanson
Frances Smith Foster Amanda Johnson Elana Wiseman
Martha Everett Amanda Johnson
Work:
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