Wild West Women: Fifty Lives that Shaped the Frontier

Reading line: Inspirational accounts of daring women who made their mark in the annals of the American West

Wild West Women features the true stories of the pioneering wives, mothers, daughters, teachers, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists who shaped the frontier and helped change the face of American history. These fifty stories cover the Western experience from Kansas City to Sacramento and the Yukon to the Texas Gulf. The indomitable spirit of these women—combined with their intellect, passion, and talent—spurred them on to overcome prejudice in its various forms and become an inspiration to many. Read about:

Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins, a fearless Paiute woman who fought to keep her embattled people within the territory of their ancestors

Etta Eugene Shureman Jones, who dedicated nearly two decades of her life to teaching in remote Alaskan villages and survived four years as a World War II POW in Japan

Nina Otero-Warren, a suffragette, esteemed author, influential educator, and eminent politician who took pride in her Spanish heritage and blazed new trails for women in government

Lola Greene Baldwin, who in 1908 became America’s first policewoman, and who was known for her progressive and aggressive programs to curb vice

Bessie Coleman, America’s first black female aviator, who broke down multiple barriers of discrimination by proving herself capable of success in a dangerous, white male-dominated profession