Women lawyers and the origins of professional identity in America : the letters of the Equity Club, 1887 to 1890 /

The Equity Club, founded in Ann Arbor by University of Michigan law students in 1886, lasted only four years and after its founding never had another general meeting; its membership barely exceeded 30. But it is known to historians by the letters participants wrote for circulation within the club as a condition of membership. These letters afford a fine insight into the situation of early women lawyers. The letters are reproduced here, preceded by Drachman's helpful introduction and followed by biographical sketches of club members. The letters are a good reminder of the wide variety of motivations, support networks, and experience of these pioneers. These women differed about whether they were women who happened to be lawyers or lawyers who happened to be women. They discussed strategies to build a successful practice, how to combine marriage and career, women's health, and appropriate professional dress--remarkably contemporary in topic if not content. At least some of the women were keenly aware of their sisters in medicine, and of the essential support their ambitions in law received from men. Throughout, the letters give tantalizing glimpses of independent personalities. Recommended for libraries with particular interest in the law, history of the professions, and women's history. Advanced undergraduates and above. A. Graebner; The College of St. Catherine