Political Woman: Florence

Sharon Hartman Strom teaches in the History Department at the University of Rhode Island. Her books include Beyond the Typewriter: Gender, Class, and the Origins of Modern American Office Work, 1900-1930 and a co-edited book, Moving the Mountain: Women Working for Social Change.

• Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations of Organizations Used in Text Introduction: "Not Bad for an Old Lady" 1. "This Wilderness World" (1815-80) 2. "Let Every (Wo)Man be Persuaded in (Her) ... Own Mind" (1863-90) 3. "My Class is Woman" (1890-1917) 4. "My Tender Reputation" (1917-33) 5. "Life Has Been Damn Lonely" (1933-40) 6. "Born Once ... Died Twice Already" (1940-45) 7. "A New, Really Liberal Party in America" (1946-54) 8. "Riding Roughshod Over American Freedoms" (1950-56) 9. "Popular Education is Indispensable" (1956-85) Epilogue: "May the Circle be Unbroken" Notes Index

"Sharon Hartman Strom's biography of Florence Hope Luscomb is a fascinating tribute to a strong, determined woman. More important, because Luscomb's activism-amazingly-spanned the early twentieth century women's suffrage movement, the post-World War I peace movement, 1950s McCarthyism, and the rebirth of peace and social justice organizing in the sixties and seventies, Strom is able to use Luscomb's life to explore the important connections among these movements." -Kristi Andersen, Department of Political Science, Maxwell School, Syracuse University, and author of After Suffrage: Women in Partisan and Electoral Politics Before the New Deal "The greatest strength of Political Woman is in the author's superb sense of the long continuities of American activism, in uniting movements and eras that are all too often seen as quite separate. In telling the story of this one amazing individual, Professor Strom encapsulates the history of twentieth century progressive politics, its commitment to feminism, peace activism, and union rights. It is a wonderful story." -Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies, Penn State University, and author of Hood and Shirts: The Extreme Right in Pennsylvania "In this beautifully crafted biography, Sharon Hartman Strom provides both a vivid portrait of her individual subject and a searching interpretation of the larger historical meanings of Luscomb's life. Strom frames her biography with autobiography: in a moving introduction and epilogue, she recounts her relationship with Luscomb and reflects on their shared tradition of activism. Deeply researched, insightful, and highly readable, Political Woman offers a valuable new resource for courses on reform and radicalism, women's history, and life writing." -Barbara Melosh, Professor of English and History at George Mason University "Strom's biography merges vigorous historical narrative with a talent for listening to a life... Besides her sophisticated political analysis, Strom probes several personal issues through the narrative, including Luscomb's family choices (she lived with her beloved mother until Hannah's death), and the economic and professional choices that resulted in poverty in her old age." -The American Historical Review "Strom succeeds in weaving Florence Luscomb's life story around the political currents of the last century, especially in Boston. Social and women's historians will welcome this story of one woman's contribution to the cause of equality and democracy." -The Journal of American History