Women’s History Month: Who Inspired You?

To wrap up March and Women’s History Month, a few of the ECW writers will sharing about the women who inspired them to become researchers, writers, and historians. Maybe it was a family member or a book or lecture by a woman. Maybe it was a biography of a woman in the past.

We look forward to sharing these stories with you this week!

And here are a few quotes from Civil War women to consider:

“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” —Harriet Tubman

“I think of the many mothers, wives and sisters who wait as anxiously, pray as fervently in their far away lonesome homes from their dear ones, as we do here; I fancy them waiting day after day for footsteps that will never come, growing more sad, lonely, and heartbroken as the days wear on.” —Sarah Morgan

“I want something to do.” This remark being addressed to the world in general, no one in particular felt it their duty to reply; so I repeated it to the smaller world about me, received the following suggestions, and settled the matter by answering my own inquire as people are apt to do when very much in earnest. . . . “Go nurse the soldiers,” said my young brother Tom, panting for “the tented field.” “I will!” So far, very good. Here was the will—now for the way.” —Louisa May Alcott, Hospital Sketches