Reclaims the lost history of women’s contributions to the development of American cities

In the days between the Civil War and World War I, women rarely worked outside the home, rarely went to college, and, if our histories are to be believed, rarely put their mark on the urban spaces unfolding around them. And yet, as this book clearly demonstrates, women did play a key role in shaping the American urban landscape.

To uncover the contribution of women to urban development during this period, Daphne Spain looks at the places where women participated most actively in public life-voluntary organizations like the Young Women’s Christian Association, the Salvation Army, the College Settlements Association, and the National Association of Colored Women. In the extensive building projects of these associations-boarding houses, vocational schools, settlement houses, public baths, and playgrounds-she finds clear evidence of a built environment created by women.

Exploring this environment, Spain reconstructs the story of the "redemptive places" that addressed the real needs of city dwellers-especially single women, African-Americans, immigrants, and the poor-and established an environment in which newcomers could learn to become urban Americans.

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Voluntary vernacular -- Why cities needed saving -- Sacred and secular organizational ideologies -- Voluntary associations with an urban presence -- New york City headquarters, smaller city branches -- Boston, the cradle of redemptive places -- Men buildChicago's skyline, women redeem the city -- How women saved the city -- Appendix A : literature review -- Appendix B : organizational charters -- Appendix C : addresses of redemptive places for Bboston, Chicago, and New York City.
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780816635320
Publisert
2001-12-11
Utgiver
University of Minnesota Press
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
149 mm
Dybde
25 mm
Aldersnivå
G, UU, 01, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
332

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Daphne Spain is professor in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia.