Girls and Literacy in America: Historical Perspectives to the Present

(Hardback)

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An exploration of the fascinating and controversial history of girls' education in America from the colonial era to the computer age. * Contributors are experts on literacy including E. Jennifer Monaghan (Brooklyn College), Amy Goodburn (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Andrea A. Lunsford (Stanford University) * Primary documents printed in full or excerpted include diaries, letters, school assignments, newspaper advice columns, short stories, and poems, all targeted to or written by girls * A chronology of the reading and writing done by girls is presented in six essays beginning in the colonial period and ending in the 21st century * An extensive bibliography includes archival holdings, secondary scholarship, and online resources

Reviews

"[E]xcellent historical resource volume ... Strongly recommended for parents and educators and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the various historical contexts of girls, which include important questions of gender, sexism and social equity. Highly recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduates and above." - Choice "[M]aterial here is divided into two major parts: historical overview and primary documents. The historical overview includes six essays by various authors addressing girls' literacy from colonial times to the end of the twentieth century. These essays are fascinating and compelling reading ... Overall, this is a superb resource that explores far more than the topic of girls and literacy. It would be a valuable addition to both public and academic libraries." - American Reference Books Annual

Author Bio

Jane Greer is assistant professor of English and associate director of women's and gender studies at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.