I read this prior to a trip to Washington State and found it a delightful augmentation to my visit. Being from the East Coast, none of these women were familiar. I enjoyed getting to know them and then seeing places named for them all over Seattle and Northern Washington. Even if you do not live in the Northwest, I recommend this is you are visiting. It's a marvelous way to get to know the area. ( )

More than Petticoats: Remarkable Washington Women, 2nd (More than Petticoats Series) by L. E. Bragg
Globe Pequot (2010), Edition: Second, Paperback, 224 pages

A fascinating collection of vignettes, featuring names familiar to almost any Washingtonian, and less familiar names, but women of significant accomplishments, provides a look at a collection of women who have shaped the culture, history and character of Washington from the 19th into the 21st centuries.

Featuring stories from the founding days of Seattle to 21st century social activism we get a glimpse into lives such as Mary Ann Boren Denny, known as the “Mother of Seattle”, Thea Christiansen Foss, the original “Tugboat Annie” and founder of Foss Maritime, still operating the largest tugboat enterprise on the West Coast, to Mother Joseph, founder of Seattle's Sisters of Providence and Providence Hospital.

Dr. Nettie J. Craig Asberry, the nation's first black woman to hold a Doctorate of Music (and thought to be the first doctoral degree in any subject) resided in Tacoma for many years providing not only instruction in music, but in social and cultural change. Further illuminating Washington culture is the iconic photographer Imogen Cunningham. Adding adventure are Fay Fuller, the first woman to summit Mount Rainier, Kathleen Rockwell, also known as “Klondike Kate” and Maude C. Lillie Bolin, aviatrix, cowgirl and rodeo performer.

Washington's first female judge, Justice Reah Mary Whitehead, Seattle's only female mayor, Bertha Knight Landes, Environmentalist and Social Activist Hazel Wolf and a host of others share drive, foresight, determination and colorful long lives to contribute significantly to Washington as we see it today.

The author has done a thorough job of research and reconstruction of these ladies' lives as we know them. There are a few slightly rough and disjointed segments, but I suspect that is more due to lack of consistent source material than the author's effort. Even as a long-time Washington resident and history geek there are many places where I paused to say “Gee, I didn't know that”. Remarkable Washington Women, indeed. ( )