Author Reading

On June 8th at 6:30 PM, please join us at the Mulberry Street Library as author Elaine Weiss talks about her book Fruits of Victory: The Women's Land Army of America in the Great War.

Fruits of Victory covers the virtually unknown story of the the Women's Land Army. From 1917 to 1920 the Woman’s Land Army (WLA) brought thousands of city workers, society women, artists, business professionals, and college students into rural America to take over the farm work after men were called to wartime service. These women wore military-style uniforms, lived in communal camps, and did what was considered “men's work”—that is, plowing fields, driving tractors, planting, harvesting, and hauling lumber. The Land Army insisted its “farmerettes” be paid wages equal to male farm laborers and be protected by an eight-hour workday. These farmerettes were shocking at first and encountered skeptical farmers’ scorn, but as they proved themselves willing and capable, farmers began to rely upon the women workers and became their loudest champions.

“This man is Harry Thaw, charged with murder,” said Capt. Hodgins, in a voice which rang through the courtroom. It was June 1906 in the Jefferson Market Court House and these words heralded the start of the trial for the murder that was proclaimed the Crime of the Century! (It was 90 years before O.J. Simpson took that title away).

The Jefferson Market Court House is now the Jefferson Market branch library and we are proud to present an author reading and discussion of the new book, American Eve: Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White. the Birth of the "It" Girl, and the Crime of the Century by Paula Uruburu. The event takes place Wednesday June 10 at 6:30pm at - where else? - the Jefferson Market branch library!