California

April 1, 1987
French's diary provides a vivid picture of what it was like to be a poor working woman in Colorado in 1890. French, recently divorced, worked as a laundress, cleaning woman, and nurse, and, regardless of illness or weariness, kept a diary of her work and how she felt about it. It is rare to find a diary describing the work of day laborers, since many were illiterate or too poor or tired to keep a journal. French wrote about every aspect of her world, including family, friends, values, and attitudes toward God. The diary is carefully edited and is a valuable source for information on the life of a working poor woman. Recommended for college libraries and public libraries with women's studies collections. Sheila R. Herstein, City Coll. of CUNY Lib.

Copyright 1987 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.