Spanning two centuries, this collection documents the lives of fifteen remarkable Latinas who witnessed, defined, defied, and wrote about the forces that shaped their lives. As entrepreneurs, community activists, mystics, educators, feminists, labor organizers, artists and entertainers, Latinas used the power of the pen to traverse and transgress cultural conventions.

Introduction, Vicki L. Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol 1. Victoria Reid and the Politics of Identity, María Raquel Casas 2. Gertrudis Barceló: La Tules of Image and Reality, Deena J. González 3. The Adventurs of Loreta Janeta Velázquez: Civil War Spy and Storyteller, Amy Dockser Marcus 4. María Amparo Ruiz de Burton and the Power of Her Pen, Rosaura Sánchez and Beatrice Pita 5. Lola Rodríguez de Tió and the Puerto Rican Struggle for Freedom, Edna Acosta-Belén 6. Teresa Urrea: Curandera and the Folk Saint, Marian Perales 7. Luisa Capetillo: Feminist of the Working Class, Nancy A. Hewitt 8. Adelina Otero Warren: Rural Aristocrat and the Modern Feminist: Elizabeth Salas 9. Pura Belpré: The Children's Ambassador: Lisa Sánchez González 10. Jovita González Mireles: A Sense of History and Homeland, María Eugenia Cotera 11. Luisa Moreno and Latina Labor Activism, Vicki L. Ruiz 12. Carmen Miranda: The High Price of Fame and Bananas, Brian O'Neil 13. Antonia Pantoja and the Power of Community Action, Virginia Sánchez Korrol 14. Ana Mendieta's Art: A JOurney through Her Life, Carlos A. Cruz 15. Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers, Alicia Chávez

"Latina Legacies is a marvelous addition to the American Studies literature documenting the lives of exemplary Latinas as diverse as Luisa Moreno, Carmen Miranda, and Teresa Urrea. Telling the stories of women of various classes, of hybrid racial identities, of diverse political engagements, and of complex romantic proclivities, this book is a gold mine of information for teachers and students alike."--Ramón A. Gutiérrez, University of California, San Diego "One of the most comprehensive looks at the intellectual, social, and cultural development of Latinas in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is a must-read for every student and reader who is curious about the rich legacy of Latinas who have made history through reform, transgression, and policy making."--Maria E. Montoya, New York University

Selling point: Documents the lives of fifteen remarkable Latinas who witnessed, defined, defied, and wrote about the forces that shaped their lives Selling point: Describes how Latinas used the power of the pen to traverse and transgress cultural conventions

Vicki L. Ruiz is Professor of History and Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine Virginia Sánchez Korrol is Professor of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College. They are the co-editors of Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia and were both named Latina Magazine Woman of the Year in Education in 2000.

Selling point: Documents the lives of fifteen remarkable Latinas who witnessed, defined, defied, and wrote about the forces that shaped their lives Selling point: Describes how Latinas used the power of the pen to traverse and transgress cultural conventions