So, I’ve been pounding away at various tasks in the office today. It is very quiet since the students are all gone. It all kind of fits the cold, rainy weather we’re currently experiencing. I’ve been meaning to write a post about a book I read last month that I found to be really interesting. If you are like me and have school-teaching in the blood and you’re a fan of American history, I think you will like it too.
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden is a book about the author’s grandmother, also named Dorothy, and her best friend Rosamond. These two women, educated at Smith, from well-to-do families in Auburn, New York, decided to go against the grain and answer the call for two teachers in the rural outpost of Elkhead, Colorado. The book focuses on both women’s lives with particular attention to that 1916-17 school year. It’s a fascinating look at what life was like then, not only for these two young women, but also as a snapshot of America in the early 20th century. When they set off on their adventure, there were still Civil War veterans around, the US had yet to engage in either of the two world wars, and women did not yet have the vote.
Here is the accompanying video/slide show from the publisher’s website with voice-over from the author.
