On Women & History- Emily Edson Briggs

March is Women's History month and each Friday I am showcasing a woman who has made her mark on history.  For more amazing stories on women who are working right now and blazing their own incredible trails through history check out this week's Newsweek magazine.

Without further ado, I give you-

Emily Edson Briggs- the first female correspondent for the White House.  Born in Ohio in 1830 Emily grabbed attention as a major national journalist in her day.  Using the pseudonym "Olivia" Briggs first wrote a letter to her local paper.  In it she described her dismay over the papers attacks on women and their inefficient facts regarding the women who were working as government clerks.  Her intensity and depth on the subject impressed the editor of the paper and he gave her a weekly column.  Briggs own husband wrote about political trends and she often accompanied him to the Lincoln White House where she became an ardent observer of the social and political times. 

Over time Emily became known for her spot on reporting of the Washington climate and was the first female reporter to use a telegraph to give up to the minute news to the nation.  Known for her sharp and witty writing style she became president of the Women's National Press Association (established in 1882) and was one of the first women admitted to the Congressional Press Gallery as well.

Known for a style all her own and an ability to see minute details on a larger scale Briggs made it possible for other female reporters to work within the Washington system.  If you think about it, without Briggs, Helen Thomas might not have existed. 

On Women & History

Two things I am passionate about- women and history.  I was a history major with a minor in women's studies.  If I had only known I was one class short of getting my certificate I would have done it.  C'est la vie.  March is Women's History Month.  Each week this month I will showcase a woman who made history.  Think of it as a light bit of education and a break from the pop culture snark we all take a big bite of these days.

Loretta Walsh (1896-1925)  I'm a softy for this one.  She has my maiden name.  I like to think we are kin folk.  At age eighteen Loretta wanted to do her part to help with the war effort. She enlisted in the US Navy on March 17, 1917 becoming the first woman in the Armed Forces in a non-nursing role.  On March 19, 1917 the Navy became the first service branch to accept women in this capacity.  Taking on roles in ammunition factories, clerical duties, radio transmissions and being stationed in places like the US, Guam and France these women recruited and produced a lot of goods for the Navy and Marines.  Guess what else?  Women service members made $28.75 a month in salary in the service. The same wage as men. 

Walsh went on to serve until her four year commitment was up.  Sadly, she died in 1925 at the age of 29.  Her tombstone reads-

 Loretta Perfectus Walsh

April 22, 1896–August 6, 1925

Woman and Patriot

First of those enrolled in the United States Naval Service

World War 1917–1919

Her comrades dedicate this monument

to keep alive forever

memories of the sacrifice and devotion of womanhood

 

 

*Image courtesy of jennifershelton.com



Your Mom's a Dork

While making dinner the other night I was simultaneously finally getting around to watching the HBO mini-series about John Adams.  Just into the first disc and rummaging through the pantry TD caught me off guard. 

Coming to my side, she asked, "Momma?  Momma! What is wrong?  Why are you crying?"  I looked at her as I wiped a tear away and took a deep, cleansing breath and said, "Oh it's nothing, TD.  Your Mom is just a giant dork. A giant dork who gets really into history. The Revolution, the sacrafice, the birth of our nation, all of it."  I sighed again as I thought about how our world has changed since Adams time.  Tom Wilkinson plays Ben Franklin and he states, "It is no small thing to build a new world."

Is that what we are doing once again?  Sometimes I feel that way. 

PBS Obsessions

I love television. As a kid I ate nearly every meal that I could get away with in front of the tube. I dressed for school while watching 'Heathcliff'. I watched Love Boat and ate cheese sandwiches. Charlie's Angels and Dukes of Hazzard? Accompanied with Doritoes. The Muppets were after Saturday night bathtime with a bowl of popcorn and juice. I've been told that I watched almost an entire day of the Carter Inauguration. I was a year and a half. I was apparently so fascinated my mother couldn't break me away. As an infant I fell asleep on my father's chest to the evening news. I clearly remember watching 'War and Rememberance' and each segment of 'North and South', a series I annually annoy H with.

There's a theme here. I love TV and I especially love historical TV dramas. So is it any surprise that through the glory of Netflix I cannot stop pillaging the PBS dramas set in historical times? It started off innocently enough with 'Manor House'. I was feeling nostalgic and got H hooked on the adventures of a modern day English family being sent back in time to live the life of Edwardians. The show followed the family and the staff for three months. It was like crack. I couldn't stop myself from watching it. From there I progressed with great excitment to '1900 House'. My specialty when I studied History. Another British family experiments with life at the turn of the century. Fascinating! Can they survive a diet of almost no fruit and only starch? Will the fires go out on stove their only heat source? While it's not all dire situations and tropical settings like Survivor or full of the bickering spats that many reality shows are known for, these shows hook me from the very beginning. I get so sucked in I watch them while I cook, load the dishwasher, or write. 'Regency House Party' is on right now!

From '1900 House' I immediately jumped to '1940s House' the story of a family forced to live in war time England complete with food rations, air raids, and a bomb shelter. I cannot break away. 'Regency House Party' the story of British singles sent to live in a country house and "party" for nine weeks is rife with love triangles and spats like any other reality show except for the roast pigs, jaunts in the fields, and chaperones making love matches for thier young charges. Hunting, drinking port, and using chamber pots is all the rage. Once this show is over I'm at a lost. I'll be forced to watch 'Sweeney Todd, the Demon of Fleet Street' or something.

Where's my 1920's house? I need my stories from WWI or how about forcing some Americans to live the fifties again with sock hops and percolating coffee. How about opening up one of those Newport, RI mansions and pushing the limits of the digestive systems by living in the Gilded Age.

These shows aren't non-stop action. They exude a quiet elegance that is often lacking in today's television. They are educational in the socio-economic sense. Plus who can resist such odd bits of information like this- Regency Men were often bulimics. A Regency cleansing complete with up chuck coach and all is on schedule after too many weeks of country house eating and living. Smashingly good stuff watching those men puke up their pork and port.