I ended up doing a lot of research for yesterday’s post, and editing some of that out. One of the things I found was a list of women that you don’t really hear much about– not the wives of famous people, but women who held what I fondly think of as “non-traditional” careers.

(Pulled from http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/figures.htm)

• Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) – Groundbreaking photo-journalist and author
• Mary Elizabeth Bowser ( 1839-?) – African-American Union spy in the Confederate White House.
• Belle Boyd (1844-1900) – Confederate spy during the Civil War
• Martha Jane “Calamity Jane” Cannary (1852-1903) – A lone woman in the wilds of the Rocky Mountain west
• Rachel Carson (1907-1964) – Marine biologist, science writer, and environmentalist.
• Cassie L. Chadwick (1857-1907) – Most infamous Cleveland financial con-artist.
• Emma Goldman (1869-1940) – Vilified in her day as the “most dangerous woman in America,” this Russian emigrant earned her title, “Queen of the Anarchists” as labor leader, lecturer, writer, women’s rights activist and free love advocate.
• Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643) – A Puritan woman who defied the male-dominated Massachusetts Bay Colony and after banishment helped settle Rhode Island and New York.

  

• Rebecca Jackson (1795-1871) – African-American eldress of the Shaker sect.
• Hedda Hopper (1890-1966) – In the golden age of Hollywood, Hedda could make or break careers. Gossip was her business and J. Edgar Hoover was her penpal.
• Marie LaVeau (1796?-1863?) – African-American Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and famous herbalist.
• Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley) (1754-1832) – Born Mary Ludwig, this revolutionary heroine followed the Continental Army for more than 3 years, doing what was needed to free the colonies from the tyranny of England.