Women of the West/Preface
PREFACE
OR SOME TIME PAST librarians, newspaper editors, club women, educational institutions, leading book sellers, chambers of commerce and other civic associations have expressed the need for a book containing the names of those women of the western states who have rendered special services and contributed in any way to the public welfare in their respective communities. With women's sphere of influence and activity constantly broadening, there is no doubt that a publication of this kind will find a ready welcome in a very large number of our best homes.
Complying with the urgent request for such a publication, we have, as a fitting tribute to the leading women in the western section of the United States, compiled and edited the present volume. The 1928 edition of WOMEN OF THE WEST contains approximately eleven hundred biographical sketches of those women whose activities in the civic, art, social, literary, church, school, political and business life of their community or state, have qualified them for a place in this reference work. In selecting the names, we have been guided by the advice of state and city officials, librarians, chambers of commerce, newspaper publishers, educators, and others who are familiar with local conditions and whose judgment has been considered competent and unbiased. Mere membership in clubs or societies did not serve as sufficient qualification for a place in this book. Those women who have done something of a creative, constructive or "outstanding" nature have been accorded due credit for their work. Authors, prominent teachers and school officials, women in public offices, workers in the Parent-Teachers movement, librarians, successful women in the business and professional world, those active in club and fraternal circles and all others "who have really accomplished something," have been given recognition in WOMEN OF THE WEST.
It will be readily understood that it was necessary to omit certain names. Quite a number of women should have been included in this list, but various reasons account for these omissions. Questionnaires were sent to those who had been recommended for entry, but not all of them were returned to us with the necessary information and the names had to be left out. Certain names, no doubt, were never suggested to us and they, of course, will not appear in this volume. Others who had supplied us with the required data had to be omitted, since further investigation disclosed the fact that their past or present activities would not entitle them to representation. We hope that the next edition will be complete in every respect, but we feel that the present volume, with all its unavoidable shortcomings, will fill a long-felt need.
We shall welcome suggestions for improvement in further editions. We invite those who consider themselves eligible to a place in WOMEN OF THE WEST, to communicate with us at an early date. A standard questionnaire will be sent to them upon request. If they qualify, their names will be included in the next edition.
Advertising matter does not appear in WOMEN OF THE WEST, and “write-up” material has not been solicited. Those whose biographies appear were not compelled to purchase a copy of the book. Not a line of space has been paid for.
Photographs of those who have contributed special articles to this edition, will be found in the illustrated sections preceding the various state lists.
We consider WOMEN OF THE WEST a real, up-to-date, comprehensive reference work for the following reasons: (1) the field of women's activities in the western states has never been covered before; (2) entries were made solely on merit; (3) not a line of space has been paid for; (4) eighty per cent of the eleven hundred biographies appearing on these pages, are published for the first time; (5) the arrangement is systematic, geographical by states and alphabetical by names; (6) all information contained in this issue was obtained from original and authentic sources.
We appreciate and acknowledge, herewith, the splendid cooperation and kind assistance of all those who have made it possible for us to compile this work, and we hope that it will serve its useful and well-meant purpose.
PUBLISHERS PRESS
Max Binheim,
Editor-in-chief
August 15, 1928