Peter Clenott

When called upon to name a noteworthy woman who lived in Oswego County, New York, most people would respond with Dr. Mary Walker, Elmina Spencer, or Malvina Guimaraes. And they would be correct: these three women played a prominent role in the county's nineteenth century history. Yet, they were not the only ones. Many others whose names are less well known accomplished much within the legal and cultural constraints of contemporary society, including writer Julia McNair Wright, artist Mary Austen Oliver, and playwright Lottie Blair Parker. Whether fighting to end slavery or for the right to vote, running for political office, or seeking reforms in women's place in society, the thirty-one women detailed in this book made a lasting impact in Oswego County and their country. Today's professional women, lawyers, doctors, judges, professors, and bankers stand on the shoulders of these pioneering foremothers who refused to let prevailing societal norms stifle their creativity and ambition.