Colorado is a state found in the United States of America. It gained its current status in 1876. It’s one of the states whose women’s lives before and after world wars attract various arguments. The reason was that women in Colorado, despite the higher positioning of men, strictly survived and were involved in various activities that motivated many women to date. Women’s life in Colorado attracted many views, scholars and researchers for example stood out to explain in depth however researchers have uncovered fascinating details of female world since they used details into an extended context, whereas Scholars used regional perspectives to explain female lives. As a result, the reports garnered various materials taken from actual contexts and hence were supportive. They were able to discover female life experiences and how they affected them in those days as far as their lives and activities were concerned. Reading and scrutinizing these provided source documents, It is clear that Colorado women’s attraction emerged as a result of how they lived their lives, their knowledge and education, their involvement in voluntary education and their space in the workforce. These concerns are tied to explaining the women of Colorado because they are what form the uniqueness of their lives, just as was highlighted in my draft.
Their Personal Lives
One complete record narrating Life of a twelve year old girl found in the 1890 diary of Adelaide French, explained her life as a woman, she lived in a ranch in Denver. This is just part of the diaries summarizing the life of Colorado-born women who chose not to get married, spent much time in women’s clubs, chose to be a teacher, enjoyed life and died later, at age 96 years. Diaries of (1898-1902). Despite this, there are various diaries explaining the lives of Colorado women in firsthand information.
First and foremost, Diary of Mamie Derbyshire, exists a narration describing the Lives of Adolescent girls in the year 1860-1870s. This is depicted in the correspondence of a visitor in Pueblo (1871-72) who wrote to her best friend. This letter was more personal and was linked to the two participant’s life experiences as women. This series of letters openly showed the lives of women as far as marriage is concerned. The two share the problem of finding a good husband for oneself. However, the sender (Ellen) seems to be giving hope to the recipient (Sarah) because she seems to have a good experience by encountering the company of good male friends. This shows how much women valued friendship, they were opened to each other and that they faced problems of marriage.
Secondly, Florence’s diaries of 1874-1879, 1880, 1881, and 1885 describe the life experiences of women in Denver, whose ages ranged from 16 to 26 years. Taking the life of McCune, who shared that her roles changed with time. The older she grew, the more responsibilities she had. In 1881, for example, she lost her father, and this desperately affected her life, which changed all of a sudden. This was due to increased responsibilities. She luckily secured a job in the office, where she faced various difficulties. Most of the time, she was blamed for any emerging crisis in the office. This ruined her life, and at some point, she even had a disagreement with her mother. In her statements, it is clear that she had no trust in marriage. She rejected two marriage proposals, claiming she would love it if she could die single or unmarried. By this, she formed among the women who remained single all along in Colorado. However, some other women who were so busy with their professions and careers, e.g. teaching and writing, remained single as well. Most probably because the freedom of a married woman was reduced and time-limited as marriage kept them so busy, forcing professional women to remain single all along.
In addition, diaries emerged about married women and their lives with their families. For example, in 1863, Sarah L.D, a 22-year-old wedded woman who evacuated from the Midwest to Denver after her wedding, had some sort of difference, which was termed as that of upper-class women. Her act of changing environment makes her miss the entire family left behind as she travels alone with her husband. This first indicates the concerns of women and how they felt connected to their families and marriages. Moreover, her life experience is termed as that of the women of leisure in Colorado, who were actually the majority. Most prominent women’s life experiences were, however, posted in public, and the majority were able to read and learn from them.
Women of Colorado were also grounded with entertainment as they entertained guests and attended various social occasions. There were Elite women who organized events for other women or couples. As from the complement of Isabel Nesmith’s arrangements, it is clear UPPER-CLASSS WOMEN existed. The pictures of these social events attended by various women who highly enjoyed life are depicted in Mrs. Henry Warren’s scrapbooks. She was the wife of a Methodist bishop and frequently attended social functions, giving her a clear reflection of social functions. Furthermore, upper-class women seemed to enjoy travelling from one place to another, watching plays or films, taking photographs, and engaging in many pleasurable activities. These are indicated in travel diaries of upper-class women including Alice Hill, Mrs. Owen and the young Ruth. Harriet Rose is another interesting woman whose descriptions are somehow close to artificial and modern life. The reason is that she included party things, theatre or films, dinners, and church attendance. This is derived from her own diary of August 1908.
Voluntary Education
In Colorado, high school was available to all females. By 1861, compulsory public education was written, and from there, many schools emerged. States like Denver had both private and public schools, leaving parents to decide where to admit their daughters. Boarding school, though, gave only wealthier families a first chance. In 1880, the University began in Denver as a private higher learning institution. It was so until 1909 when the Colorado Woman’s Collage was formed. Women of Colorado highly felt motivated and were interested. This was an opportunity for them, for they were able to attain their bachelor’s degree. Wealthier girls, though, chose to go to the East for a Degree in their education. As from the institutional Memorabilia, education seemed to have discriminated between poor girls and rich girls. The rich girls joined quality universities compared to girls from poor families.
Women Organization
From various materials allocated, reports, and programs included, women’s organizations and associations emerged in Colorado. This information was posted in the manuscripts of the minutes they had during meetings. A good source is the PRE-1914 period. The Minutes clearly revealed the sort of objectives and goals they had and the strategies of their organizations. These organizations included the Women’s Club of Denver, Clio Clubs and Daughters of the American Revolution, among others. These clubs were linked to structures and strict procedures as per membership recruitments, leadership or nomination, the attendants of the club, management of the daily activities and running activities, e.g. time taken. Limitations of membership were also included in the structure; for example, if the level of education is considered, the procedure of their nominations as per their organizational management is concerned and more.
THESE CLUBS OF WOMEN in Colorado had various functions. First and foremost, it provided enjoyment for women in large societies through public services and payments. Some women, for example, Martha, a Canine, became state legislators, having served as a leader in the Denver club. Some women managed to win executive positions, enabling women in Colorado to develop a sense of belief in themselves and started taking opportunities in women’s clubs as important as it was clear it formed a good ground. However, most women before World War 1 rarely engaged in paying jobs, if not domestic jobs. Nevertheless, some women provided much, Denver women for example were perceived as breadwinners.
Women Labor Force
In the Years 1860 and 1910, information based on statistical data on women’s labour was published. These reports were based on the marital status of female workers, black female workers, the settings of immigrants and occupations. To begin with, FEDERAL CENSUS of 1900 revealed that Colorado’s women who engaged in waitress and servants jobs were of greater number followed by those who took chances in teaching and professors in colleges and in dress making. .According to this report, only a thousand black women and more than five thousand white women engaged in domestic affairs. Additionally, it was recorded that the majority of the working females in Colorado were single since only 17% were married while 3% were divorced women.
Diaries are provided describing women’s experience in the field of occupation. Polly Pry for example, (1903-1905), narrates her story as a writer and editor. She pointed out important issues as far as corruption and leadership are concerned. She was brave and never hesitated to point out such critical issues. Through this, she formed among influential women (Colorado women-based magazine) and encouraged many to stand with no fear. Journalism for women from Denver Times by Edith, telephone girls, etc., were among the occupations women indulged in.
Changes In Their Lives
In Colorado, women’s lives came to change in 1897 on that Christmas day when they were guaranteed an opportunity to publish a special issue of Denver News, including their interests, wishes and activities. This came to change individuals, hence the society.
In conclusion, Studying women of Colorado is important because the various contents given based on their lives, their progress, success, relations, different classes and efforts not only add knowledge of the state’s female population but also improve our understanding of their culture and how it is related to the current or modern lives of women. It’s for this matter that I chose to select Women In Colorado Before the First World War as my topic of interest.
