I’ll look for your new substack! Fascinating reading through the eyes of you and your (similarly adventure-seeking and communicative) grandmother. Coincidence for me that I have also just started reading Jaqueline Winspear’s early detective novels addressing the Great War from a British perspective and just completed reading Robert Sapolsky’s more academic work considering the war from the anchor of neurobiology and human behavior. I agree with you. Readers have much to gain from enlightening their own choices through such a past/present and multifaceted prism. Thank you for your contribution.
Thanks, Carol, for interest in the forthcoming Substack, your comments, and the book recommendations, though the former sounds more captivating than the latter :).
lol. I hear you. But…Oh my gosh, check out to this review from another old friend of mine, from college: “Carol— A few weeks back on Facebook you mentioned reading Sapolsky’s Behave while you were recovering from Covid. I just finished it. What a fabulous book! I felt like I was back in a Hum Bio class. A multidisciplinary view of human behavior. It makes me see the world a little differently.
Thanks for the recommendation!”
It is a long hard read yet it was life bending in a way for me too. Surprising. This friend is an MD and the person who recommended it to me is a violinist. Go figure!
Absolutely fascinating! I had never heard of the farmettes. I recall my Mom’s stories of the Victory Gardens they planted during WWII, but not this story.
As I recall, San Francisco was a hub for the suffragist movement.
Thanks, Dana, for your comments. People also planted Victory Gardens for the Great War and much more. I think many of the WWII efforts came from what was done during the first war.
Doesn't suprise me that San Francisco was a hub of the suffragist movement. Go, San Francisco!
It's really incredible, Joseph, the many war related efforts that women led but still were denied the right to vote! It still took two more years for President Wilson to finally sign the legislation. Geez!!
Congratulations on developing an audience that looks forward to your writing. You have a talent for making history come alive. I always enjoy your snippets, but also always learn interesting things.
Wow, this is fascinating! I knew more about the role of women in the U.S. war effort during WWII (my late wife’s grandmother was the head of the WACs), but little or nothing about this facet of history.
Thank you, Martin! I too found this part of the history of the war intriguing. Other parts of this chapter include the many activities that regular ol' folks did to support the war effort and do their part. Really makes me wonder about today and the kinds of "sacrifices" people would be willing to make.
This episode is fascinating. I learned a great deal from this piece and appreciate the time it took for you to research then write this. Thank you, as always, for your interesting and informative peek into history. 🌷
Totally fascinating and enlightening Andrea - thank you! Looking forward to your new separate Substack coming out.
Rest-a-Bit farm - what a lovely name!!
And I second Carol’s endorsement of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series, which provides a wonderful perspective on both World War I and II from the British perspective; and thank you to Sabrina (of the Geography of Home Substack) for that book series recommendation!
Thank you so much, Martha, for the read and comments. My grandmother said her mother must have thought the family farm should have been named "Rest-Not-a-Bit." Though she loved taking care of the farm, it must have been a ton of work.
I'll check out the Maisie Dobbs series. Thanks to all for the recommendation.
I'll put you on the list for the other Substack. Thanks!!
Brilliant! I remember your grandmother Flo Flo and all the energy and flair she had! I’m sure those early years of service and independence went a long way to shaping her into the woman she was. Well written!!
Thanks, Betz! I much appreciate your comments and your memories of Flo Flo. I'm sure you're right that this experience left a deep and significant mark on her. She was quite a woman, doing other feats that few women of her time did. Like climbing 14,000 foot Pike's Peak in Colorado when she was in her early 20s.
This was really wonderful to read Andrea! I have learned much about British women’s efforts in the wars but know much less about American women’s efforts. This is a fascinating summary! Looking forward to learning more as you continue to sneak in that history!
Yeah, watch out for that sneaking! Thank you for your comments and enthusiasm! It was interesting to me that the WLLA was based on Britain's Land Lassies. I guess that was an appropriate name but it rings odd now.
I'd read about the "armies" of working woman harnessed in support of WW II (e.g., "Rosie the Riveter" in Richmond), but not for WWI, nor of their political proximity to the 19th amendment. It was interesting to read how much your grandmother craved and delighted in simple, outdoor work. I look forward to reading more about her father in due time!
Tim, thank you for your comment. It still took Wilson two years and a lot of convincing to sign the 19th Amendment! What you say is true about my grandmother. She was always one for adventure. When she was in her early twenties she climbed Pike's Peak. They didn't have down jackets, fleece, Vibram soles, or Goretex then!
I loved this piece and learned so many things. A others have mentioned, I had no idea that women took over men's jobs during The Great War in the U.S. I'd only read about it happening in the UK. (And I also recommend the Jennifer Winspear books.) So I'd never heard of the farmettes either. Also, I just recently learned that the term suffragettes was the derogatory term given to the women who referred to themselves as suffragists.
I just love how advernturous grandmother was and I look forward to reading more about her and the family.
Thank you, Robin. I'm happy you loved the piece and learned a lot. I learned a lot too, especially about the millions of women who volunteered in whatever way they could for the cause. It's incredible the sacrifices they made in giving up food at the dinner table, use of rubber and metal, and so many other things they gave for the cause.
It is interesting that suffragette was a derisive term and that the WLLA intentionally adopted it. Turning something negative into something positive. A tactical manuever.
Thanks again for reading and your comments. Much appreciated.
I had never heard of the farmerettes. Of course women were recruited to do this work.
And so many other kinds as well, including dangerous work on the front lines.
I’ll look for your new substack! Fascinating reading through the eyes of you and your (similarly adventure-seeking and communicative) grandmother. Coincidence for me that I have also just started reading Jaqueline Winspear’s early detective novels addressing the Great War from a British perspective and just completed reading Robert Sapolsky’s more academic work considering the war from the anchor of neurobiology and human behavior. I agree with you. Readers have much to gain from enlightening their own choices through such a past/present and multifaceted prism. Thank you for your contribution.
Thanks, Carol, for interest in the forthcoming Substack, your comments, and the book recommendations, though the former sounds more captivating than the latter :).
lol. I hear you. But…Oh my gosh, check out to this review from another old friend of mine, from college: “Carol— A few weeks back on Facebook you mentioned reading Sapolsky’s Behave while you were recovering from Covid. I just finished it. What a fabulous book! I felt like I was back in a Hum Bio class. A multidisciplinary view of human behavior. It makes me see the world a little differently.
Thanks for the recommendation!”
It is a long hard read yet it was life bending in a way for me too. Surprising. This friend is an MD and the person who recommended it to me is a violinist. Go figure!
❤️😎❤️
Thanks for this. I hope I don't get Covid in order to read it :)
Yes! 😃
Absolutely fascinating! I had never heard of the farmettes. I recall my Mom’s stories of the Victory Gardens they planted during WWII, but not this story.
As I recall, San Francisco was a hub for the suffragist movement.
Thank you for sharing this history.
Thanks, Dana, for your comments. People also planted Victory Gardens for the Great War and much more. I think many of the WWII efforts came from what was done during the first war.
Doesn't suprise me that San Francisco was a hub of the suffragist movement. Go, San Francisco!
Thanks! I knew women made great contributions to the war effort but I didn’t know of the official Women’s Land Army.
It's really incredible, Joseph, the many war related efforts that women led but still were denied the right to vote! It still took two more years for President Wilson to finally sign the legislation. Geez!!
Congratulations on developing an audience that looks forward to your writing. You have a talent for making history come alive. I always enjoy your snippets, but also always learn interesting things.
Thanks so much, Kathy. I'm glad this piqued your interest and you learned something new. That's what I'm trying to do :)
Wow, this is fascinating! I knew more about the role of women in the U.S. war effort during WWII (my late wife’s grandmother was the head of the WACs), but little or nothing about this facet of history.
Thank you, Martin! I too found this part of the history of the war intriguing. Other parts of this chapter include the many activities that regular ol' folks did to support the war effort and do their part. Really makes me wonder about today and the kinds of "sacrifices" people would be willing to make.
I love that you have so many pictures and letters from your grandmother! I look forward to all of your chapters!
I know you can appreciate from your genealogy work the importance and joy that photographs and letters bring. I'm really fortunate.
This episode is fascinating. I learned a great deal from this piece and appreciate the time it took for you to research then write this. Thank you, as always, for your interesting and informative peek into history. 🌷
Why thank you so much! I really appreciate your comments. I'm so glad this piece caught readers' interest. Let's hope the book does the same!
Totally fascinating and enlightening Andrea - thank you! Looking forward to your new separate Substack coming out.
Rest-a-Bit farm - what a lovely name!!
And I second Carol’s endorsement of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series, which provides a wonderful perspective on both World War I and II from the British perspective; and thank you to Sabrina (of the Geography of Home Substack) for that book series recommendation!
Thank you so much, Martha, for the read and comments. My grandmother said her mother must have thought the family farm should have been named "Rest-Not-a-Bit." Though she loved taking care of the farm, it must have been a ton of work.
I'll check out the Maisie Dobbs series. Thanks to all for the recommendation.
I'll put you on the list for the other Substack. Thanks!!
Brilliant! I remember your grandmother Flo Flo and all the energy and flair she had! I’m sure those early years of service and independence went a long way to shaping her into the woman she was. Well written!!
Thanks, Betz! I much appreciate your comments and your memories of Flo Flo. I'm sure you're right that this experience left a deep and significant mark on her. She was quite a woman, doing other feats that few women of her time did. Like climbing 14,000 foot Pike's Peak in Colorado when she was in her early 20s.
This was really wonderful to read Andrea! I have learned much about British women’s efforts in the wars but know much less about American women’s efforts. This is a fascinating summary! Looking forward to learning more as you continue to sneak in that history!
Yeah, watch out for that sneaking! Thank you for your comments and enthusiasm! It was interesting to me that the WLLA was based on Britain's Land Lassies. I guess that was an appropriate name but it rings odd now.
I'd read about the "armies" of working woman harnessed in support of WW II (e.g., "Rosie the Riveter" in Richmond), but not for WWI, nor of their political proximity to the 19th amendment. It was interesting to read how much your grandmother craved and delighted in simple, outdoor work. I look forward to reading more about her father in due time!
Tim, thank you for your comment. It still took Wilson two years and a lot of convincing to sign the 19th Amendment! What you say is true about my grandmother. She was always one for adventure. When she was in her early twenties she climbed Pike's Peak. They didn't have down jackets, fleece, Vibram soles, or Goretex then!
I loved this piece and learned so many things. A others have mentioned, I had no idea that women took over men's jobs during The Great War in the U.S. I'd only read about it happening in the UK. (And I also recommend the Jennifer Winspear books.) So I'd never heard of the farmettes either. Also, I just recently learned that the term suffragettes was the derogatory term given to the women who referred to themselves as suffragists.
I just love how advernturous grandmother was and I look forward to reading more about her and the family.
Thank you, Robin. I'm happy you loved the piece and learned a lot. I learned a lot too, especially about the millions of women who volunteered in whatever way they could for the cause. It's incredible the sacrifices they made in giving up food at the dinner table, use of rubber and metal, and so many other things they gave for the cause.
It is interesting that suffragette was a derisive term and that the WLLA intentionally adopted it. Turning something negative into something positive. A tactical manuever.
Thanks again for reading and your comments. Much appreciated.
What a fantastic piece! The pictures are incredible.
Thanks, Marjie. I really enjoyed doing the research to learn more about the WLLA and the work women did during the Great War. Who wudda thunk?
It’s incredible that you have all that stuff. One of the many benefits of being in one place for generations.