A Trendsetter

My wife and I were reorganizing the house recently when I uncovered a wonderful treasure.

Her aunt, an artist, poet, and fiercely independent woman who never married, self-published a book in 1933. I was fortunate enough to inherit an original copy (61 pages) and I thought I’d share a few photos with you. We also have two large oil paintings and a watercolor adorning our walls.

I hope you find it as fascinating and encouraging as I did. At a time when American women had far fewer opportunities and freedoms than they do today, she wrote, painted, traveled across the country on her own, and had the determination to publish and promote her own work. Nearly a century later, her book reminds me that the desire to create and share our stories isn’t new, although it may take different forms over time.