Votes for Women!: The Story of Carrie Chapman Catt (Feminist Voices)

Somervill, Barbara A.

ISBN 10: 188384696X ISBN 13: 9781883846961

Publisher: Morgan Reynolds Pub, 2002

Synopsis

Profiles Carrie Chapman Catt, an educator, prohibitionist, and women's rights advocate who was instrumental in the passage of the nineteenth amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 6-9-This appears to be the first biography of Catt written for a young adult audience. Unfortunately, Somervill's obvious respect and sympathy for her subject fail to enliven the dry text. The suffragist's long life clearly encompassed vast changes in personal, political, and societal arenas, and her active participation in working for change is outlined here. As well as describing Catt's early years, the author provides background on the social issues of the times. This introductory material flows well, but it is followed by a chronological history of Catt's years of work in a variety of organizations that is considerably less effective. Despite Somervill's efforts, it may be difficult for those without a deeper understanding of the women's suffrage movement, its organizations, and its internal rivalries to follow the many events described. Several poor-quality, black-and-white photos, mainly portraits of Catt and her colleagues, accompany the text.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5-8. Catt spent her long life fighting tirelessly for women's suffrage. Along the way, she went to college, worked as a journalist, married and was widowed twice, and traveled ceaselessly until her death in 1947 after spending her latter years working with Jewish refugees. As leader of both the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the International Woman Suffrage Association, Catt experienced defeat after defeat but she never stopped her quest, keeping the idea of votes for women alive. She was finally rewarded by seeing state after state give women the right to vote; the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919 was the culmination of her work and dreams. The format is dull, and Somervill's use of language is occasionally awkward, but the vividness and raw power of Catt's story come through. Illustrated with occasional black-and-white photographs. A time line, a bibliography, and notes are appended. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Morgan Reynolds Pub
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 188384696X
• ISBN 13: 9781883846961
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 128