Subject: Re: Women Blacksmiths 1861-1871

From: [email-masked] (Gene Olson and Chris Wilson)
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 10:07:47 -0400 (EDT)

There is a very simple justification for a woman blacksmith in Wisconsin in
1871.

We were hard on the heels of the Civil War, next door in MN close to 50% of
the men had gone off to war. Somebody took their place. There were huge
causlties and a lot of men didn't come back. Would Rosie put down her hammer
if there were still plows to fix before she could get the garden in; nails
to make before the roof could be fixed? 

2 cents

Gene

 The Studios of Gene Olson and Chris Wilson
   Working in Metals, Stone, Mixed Media
    URL: http://www.cris.com/~mettlewk/

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From: Dave B <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 05:46:52 -0500

>    URL: http://www.cris.com/~mettlewk/

Gene - 

Thanks for the $0.02 worth.  Subjectively, women in blacksmith shops of the
period make sense.  However, when working in a living history museum, the
management becomes sticklers for detail.  It doesn't matter whether or not
something makes sense, or even "had to be".  It can't be done in the park
unless you can provide hard documentary evidence from the period.  Anecdotal
evidence isn't acceptable to the historical purists.  I am not defending
them, just stating how they are and what we 'interpreters' have to contend
with.  I'd love to find newspaper articles, family letters, payroll records,
anything hard and verifiable.  Then I stand a chance of getting them to
allow this young lady into the blacksmith's shop with me.  I think I will be
folowing up on Mark's suggested web site.

Dave B

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From: "Bruce M. Freeman" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 21:00:51 -0400

A
>folowing up on Mark's suggested web site.
I suggest when confronted with such sticklers to point to the plethora of hard 
documentary evidence that women fought in wars alongside men.   The War Between 
the States for one.  Visit Gettysburg around July 4 (or any other
reenactment) and 
stop by any sutler who sells books...

B. Freeman

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From: Dave B <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 21:17:33 -0500

>>Gene - 
(SNIP)

>stop by any sutler who sells books...
When I lived in CT and VA oh those many years ago, I was a Civil War
re-enactor and am well aware of the numbers of women who fought in the war
as soldiers and vivendiers.  These women and the rolls they took upon
themselves, however, are well documented.  Photos of these women, taken by
Brady and others, are easily found in just about any library.  However, I am
trying to find similar documents regarding women blacksmiths durint the
period following the CW.  I can point to all the women soldiers of the time,
and even show pictures, but that won't justify having a woman in my
blacksmith shop.  What I need is a picture, a letter, a newspaper article,
or something as concrete as these.

Dave B