Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Natural Allies, based on painstaking research begun more than 30 years ago when Anne Frior Scott was preparing her now-classic The Southern Lady, is clear and highly readable. It will appeal not only to historians and sociologists but also to anyone working with or studying voluntary organizations.
"Both an engaging survey of existing scholarship and a plea for additional research. . . . With wry humor and impassioned scholarship Anne Frior Scott teaches us that the more we are able to learn about women . . . 'the more we will understand about the society that has shaped us all.'"
-- New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
America's female benevolent societies took root in the 1790s. Initially founded on notions of Christian duty and hope of heavenly reward, these groups produced volunteers dedicated to providing aid to unfortunates in general and women and children in particular. Anne Frior Scott explores the history of these aid societies and how they allowed women to influence America's social agenda and make inroads into politics long before they could vote. Scott reveals how women from all corners of society took part; examines their changing role in the midst of tumultuous times and during the rise of the welfare state; assesses the overlooked accomplishment of black women's organizations from the early days of the republic; and looks at the kinds of enduring community institutions women's organizations founded and maintained.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [191]-229) and index.