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Excerpt from Kansas Women in Literature, by Nettie Garmer Barker

Lillian W. Hale, Kansas City, is author of verse, short stories, and a
novel. Another novel will be ready for publication this autumn.

Lois Oldham Henrici, a one-time Sabetha and Parsons woman, is the author
of "Representative Women" and many good short stories.

Laura D. Congdon, a Newton pioneer, is a verse and short story writer.
Mary H. Finn, Sedgwick, writes beautiful verse and much prose. Jennie C.
Graves, Pittsburg, writes poetry and moving picture plays. Mrs. Johannas
Bennett, another Pittsburg woman, has written an historical novel, "La
Belle San Antone." Florence L. Snow, Neosho Falls, is an artistic and
finished writer of verse and prose. She is the author of "The Lamp of
Gold." Sharlot M. Hall, Lincoln, writes prose and verse. A volume
of poems, "Cactus And Pine," "History of Arizona," "A Woman of the
Frontier," "The Price of The Star" and short stories are her important
works. Mrs. A. S. McMillan, Lyons, a poetess, song writer and licensed
preacher, writes clever verse, much of which has been set to music.
"Land Where Dreams Come True" is her best known poem. Kittie Skidmore
Cowen, a former Columbus woman, is author of "An Unconditional
Surrender," a civil war story. "The Message of Hagar," a study of
the Mormon question will be in the press soon. Miss Mary E. Upshaw,
McPherson, wrote verse at the age of seven and published her first story
at fifteen. She has a book in preparation which she expects to publish
at an early date. Jeanette Scott Benton, formerly of Fort Scott, writes
short stories novelettes, and stories for children. May Belleville Brown
of Salina, has a very clever pen, as has, also Mrs. Lulu R. Fuhr of
Meade, the author of "Tenderfoot Tales." Mrs. E. M. Adams, Mound City,
writes exquisite verse and in the past, had many short stories to her
credit. Mrs. C. W. Smith, Stockton, writes both prose and verse. Cara
A. Thomas Hoover, formerly of Halstead, Harvey County, now living in
Rialto, California, writes prose and beautiful verse. Rose Hartwick
Thorpe, the author of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night," was a Kansan in
the early sixties. She lived at Wilmington.

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Kansas Women in Literature by Nettie Garmer Barker ​

Context of the Source ​

Nettie Garmer Barker’s Kansas Women in Literature (1918) is a compilation of biographical sketches and literary contributions by women writers from Kansas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The work serves as both a literary catalog and a historical record, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women to regional and national literature during a time when female authors faced significant barriers to recognition.

The excerpt provided is a brief but dense survey of Kansas women writers, listing their names, hometowns, genres, and notable works. While the passage may appear to be a simple directory, it carries deeper significance in terms of gender, regional identity, literary achievement, and cultural preservation.

Themes in the Excerpt ​

  1. Women’s Literary Contributions in a Male-Dominated Field

    • The text explicitly centers women’s intellectual and creative labor, countering the historical erasure of female writers.
    • Many of these women were multi-genre writers—producing poetry, short stories, novels, historical works, and even screenplays (e.g., Jennie C. Graves’ "moving picture plays").
    • The inclusion of preachers, songwriters, and historians (e.g., Mrs. A.S. McMillan, Sharlot M. Hall) expands the definition of "literature" beyond traditional forms, emphasizing women’s diverse roles in cultural production.

  2. Regional Pride and Kansas Identity

    • The text ties each woman to a specific Kansas town, reinforcing a sense of local literary heritage.
    • Some writers, like Rose Hartwick Thorpe (author of the famous poem "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night"), are noted for their early connections to Kansas, even if they later gained national fame.
    • The mention of frontier and pioneer experiences (e.g., Laura D. Congdon as a "Newton pioneer," Sharlot M. Hall’s A Woman of the Frontier) reflects Kansas’ settler history and the role of women in documenting it.

  3. Genre Diversity and Literary Innovation

    • The women listed worked across poetry, prose, historical fiction, children’s stories, and even early film scripts, showing their adaptability to emerging literary markets.
    • Some, like Kittie Skidmore Cowen, engaged with controversial topics (e.g., The Message of Hagar, a study of the Mormon question), demonstrating intellectual boldness.
    • Others, like Mrs. Johannas Bennett, wrote historical novels (La Belle San Antone), contributing to regional myth-making.

  4. Youth and Precocious Talent

    • Mary E. Upshaw is highlighted for writing verse at age seven and publishing a story at fifteen, suggesting that young women’s voices were also valued in this literary community.

  5. Religion and Moral Influence

    • Several women, such as Mrs. A.S. McMillan, were licensed preachers and hymn writers, blending literary and spiritual authority.
    • This reflects the Protestant cultural influence in early 20th-century Kansas, where women often found literary outlets through religious publications.

Literary Devices and Stylistic Choices ​

  1. Catalogue/Listing Style

    • The passage uses a repetitive, enumerative structure, listing names, towns, and works in a matter-of-fact manner.
    • This accumulation of names creates a sense of collective achievement, reinforcing the idea that Kansas had a thriving female literary tradition.
    • The lack of deep individual analysis suggests that Barker’s primary goal was documentation rather than criticism—she is preserving a record rather than evaluating quality.

  2. Geographical Anchoring

    • Each woman is tied to a specific Kansas town (e.g., "Sedgwick," "Pittsburg," "Neosho Falls"), which:
      • Grounds their work in place, reinforcing regional identity.
      • Creates a mental map of Kansas as a literary landscape.
      • Contrasts with the mobility of some writers (e.g., Cara A. Thomas Hoover, who moved to California).

  3. Selective Detail for Emphasis

    • Barker highlights certain works or achievements to give a sense of each woman’s distinctive contribution:
      • Rose Hartwick Thorpe is singled out for her famous poem, suggesting national recognition.
      • Sharlot M. Hall is noted for her historical and frontier-themed works, aligning with Kansas’ settler narrative.
      • Mrs. A.S. McMillan’s "Land Where Dreams Come True" is called her best-known poem, implying popularity.
    • The variation in detail (some get one line, others multiple works listed) may reflect availability of information or Barker’s personal emphasis.

  4. Implied Feminist Undertones

    • While not overtly political, the sheer volume of women listed challenges the male-dominated literary canon of the time.
    • The inclusion of preachers, historians, and screenwriters expands the definition of what counts as "literature," validating women’s diverse forms of expression.

Significance of the Excerpt ​

  1. Historical Recovery of Women Writers

    • Barker’s work is an early example of feminist literary recovery, documenting women who might otherwise have been forgotten.
    • Many of these writers did not achieve lasting fame, making this text a vital historical resource.

  2. Regional Literary History

    • The excerpt maps Kansas as a literary hub, countering the idea that only coastal cities (New York, Boston) produced serious literature.
    • It reflects the cultural and intellectual life of the Midwest in the early 20th century.

  3. Genre and Medium Expansion

    • The inclusion of moving picture plays (early screenwriting) and historical novels shows how women were adapting to new forms of storytelling.
    • The blending of poetry, prose, and religious writing demonstrates the fluidity of women’s literary roles.

  4. Challenging Gender Norms

    • Women like Mrs. A.S. McMillan (a licensed preacher) and Kittie Skidmore Cowen (writing on the Mormon question) were engaging in intellectual and theological debates, areas often dominated by men.
    • The youth of some writers (e.g., Mary E. Upshaw) suggests that girls’ education and creativity were being nurtured.

  5. Legacy and Influence

    • Some of these women, like Sharlot M. Hall, went on to have lasting influence (Hall became a noted Arizona historian).
    • Others, like Rose Hartwick Thorpe, were already nationally known, proving that Kansas women could compete in the broader literary market.

Close Reading of Key Lines ​

  1. "Lillian W. Hale, Kansas City, is author of verse, short stories, and a novel. Another novel will be ready for publication this autumn."

    • Tense shift: The use of "will be" (future) suggests ongoing literary activity, reinforcing that these women were active, producing new work.
    • Genre diversity: The mention of verse, short stories, and novels shows versatility, a common theme in the excerpt.

  2. "Sharlot M. Hall, Lincoln, writes prose and verse. A volume of poems, Cactus And Pine, History of Arizona, A Woman of the Frontier, The Price of The Star and short stories are her important works."

    • Frontier themes: Titles like A Woman of the Frontier and Cactus And Pine evoke Western expansion and female resilience.
    • "Important works": Barker’s subjective judgment suggests these were standout contributions, possibly influencing later Western literature.

  3. "Mrs. A. S. McMillan, Lyons, a poetess, song writer and licensed preacher, writes clever verse, much of which has been set to music."

    • "Poetess": The term (now considered outdated) was commonly used for women poets in the 19th/early 20th century, reflecting gendered language of the time.
    • Licensed preacher: This is unusual for the era, highlighting how some women transcended traditional roles.
    • "Clever verse": The word "clever" (rather than "profound" or "lyrical") may reflect contemporary gendered expectations—women’s writing was often praised for wit rather than depth.

  4. "Rose Hartwick Thorpe, the author of Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night, was a Kansan in the early sixties. She lived at Wilmington."

    • National fame: Thorpe’s poem was widely anthologized, making her the most recognizable name in the list.
    • "Was a Kansan": The past tense suggests she left Kansas, but Barker claims her for Kansas literary history, reinforcing regional pride.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters ​

Nettie Garmer Barker’s excerpt is more than a dry list—it is a testament to the vibrancy of women’s literature in early 20th-century Kansas. By naming, locating, and categorizing these writers, Barker:

  • Preserves a female literary tradition that might otherwise have been lost.
  • Challenges the idea that serious literature only came from major cities.
  • Shows the diversity of women’s voices, from poets to preachers to screenwriters.
  • Subtly asserts the importance of regional identity in American literature.

While modern readers might find the style repetitive or lacking in depth, the sheer act of compilation was radical for its time. Today, this excerpt serves as a valuable historical document, offering insights into how women carved out literary spaces in an era of limited recognition.

Would you like a deeper dive into any particular writer mentioned?