Books with title Extraordinary Women of the American West

The brave pioneers who made a life on the frontier were not only male—and they were not only white. The story of African-American women in the Old West is one that has largely gone untold until now. The stories of ten African-American women are reconstructed from historic documents found in century-old archives. Some of these women slaves, some were free, and some were born into slavery and found freedom in the old west. They were laundresses, freedom advocates, journalists, educators, midwives, business proprietors, religious converts, philanthropists, mail and freight haulers, and civil and social activists. These hidden historical figures include Biddy Mason, a slave who fought for her family's freedom; Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood, a teacher determined to educate black children and aid them in leading better lives; and the mysterious Mary Ellen Pleasant, a civil rights crusader and savvy businesswoman. Even in the face of racial prejudice, these unsung heroes never gave up hope for a brighter future.

Extraordinary Women of the Rocky Mountain West brings us the real women who homesteaded, worked the ranches, built the cities, ran the businesses, brought art to the frontier, founded the institutions, preserved human history and natural wonders, fought against racial and gender discrimination, and advanced the cause of equality for women. The women of this book exhibited “can-do, forthright frontier spunk;” some were quiet, others were strident. They were nonviolent but definitely militant. Their stories are powerful, exciting, and inspiring, all the more for being the unsung heroines who carved a life out of a vast region and forged a society where strong, intelligent, capable women stood up to forces of nature and political opposition and conquered most obstacles. Lindy Conter, Co-chair of the Board of Directors (2004-2009), Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.Extraordinary Women of the Rocky Mountain West, co-published by the Pikes Peak Library District and the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, received a Finalist Award in the 2011 Women Writing the West WILLA Literary Awards competition. This award is in the Scholarly Nonfiction category. Here is a link to the list of all of the award winners:http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/willaCurrentFinalists.htmlThe WILLA Literary Awards honors the best in literature, featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the West that are published each year. Women Writing the West (WWW), a non-profit association of writers and other professionals writing and promoting the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the nationally recognized award annually at the WWW Fall Conference. The award is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize winner Willa Cather, one of the country’s foremost novelists.ISBN 9781567352771

Highlight the achievements of people who have changed American life and history! Eleanor Roosevelt Georgia O'Keeffe Bonnie Blair Rachel Carson Dorothea Lange Ella Fitzgerald Rosalyn Sussman Yalow Ruth Bader Ginsberg Ka'iulani of Hawaii Donna Karan Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman (Nellie Bly) Nikki Giovanni Eileen Collins Mary Jane Colter Susan Butcher Nancy Pelosi