These books by Northeastern authors tell the lesser-known stories of women and their achievements, from an early architect of the Republican Party to 19th-century opera divas and a Zambian educator.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve compiled a collection of women-centered stories that you may have never heard — as told by Northeastern faculty authors (as well as one graduate).
Some are deeper or alternative histories: If you know Anne Boleyn, for instance, you may not know about her formative years in France. The federal food stamp program (SNAP) is a recognizable part of American government; the Republican congresswoman who championed it for decades, less so.
Others highlight the women who helped shape skilled trades and art forms, including woodworkers and opera divas of the 19th century. One tells the story of a late Zambian educator working to improve the prospects of her country’s youth. Spanning academic disciplines, all of these titles share the same objective: to give credit where it has been long overdue.
By Meg Heckman, CAMD
From the publisher: Newspaper publisher and GOP kingmaker Nackey Scripps Loeb headed the Union Leader Corporation, one of the most unusual — and influential — local newspaper companies in the United States. Her unapologetic conservatism and powerful perch in the home of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary elicited fear and respect while her leadership of New Hampshire’s Union Leader gave her an outsized role in American politics.
By Joseph Schmitt, DMSB ‘20
From the publisher: The inspiring account of one woman’s quest to educate and empower rural village children. Dora Moono Nyambe — or “Teacher Dora” — began with no funding and no school building, just an unwavering belief “that kindness should drive humanity and development.” From preventing child marriages, navigating village politics and reaching millions of supporters online, Teacher Dora’s epic journey from mud hut to full-fledged boarding school is a testament to her incredible resilience and tenacity.
By Deirdre Visser, Oakland campus
From the publisher: The first publication of its kind to survey the long and rich histories of women and gender non-conforming persons who work in wood. Written for craft practitioners, design students, and readers interested in the intersections of gender and labor history — with 200 full-color images, both historical and contemporary — this book provides an accessible and insightful entry into the histories, practices and lived experiences of women and nonbinary makers in woodworking.
By Estelle Paranque, History, London campus
From the publisher: While many stories of Anne Boleyn’s downfall have been told, few have truly traced the origins of her grim fate. Estelle Paranque takes us back to where it all started: to France, where Anne learned the lessons that would set her on the path to becoming one of England’s most infamous queens. A fascinating new perspective on Tudor history’s most enduring story, Thorns, Lust, and Glory is an unmissable account of a queen on the edge.
By Chris Bosso, CSSH
From the publisher: How did SNAP, formerly the food stamp program, evolve from a Depression-era effort to use up surplus goods into America’s foundational food assistance program? And how does SNAP survive? Incisive and original, Why SNAP Works is the first book to provide a comprehensive history and evaluation of the nation’s most important food insecurity and poverty alleviation effort — essential for anyone concerned about food access, poverty, and the “welfare system” in the United States.
Edited by Hillary Poriss, CAMD
From the abstract: The female singers who graced the nineteenth-century operatic stage were among the most celebrated women of their era, but they were also among the most transgressive. This book approaches the prima donna from the perspectives of cultural history, musicology, gender/sexuality studies, theater and literature studies, and critical theory.