Introduction

Despite the existence of a vast, but until fairly recently, relatively untapped body of documentary material reflecting on the lives of mid-nineteenth century American women and their attitudes toward their lot, the editors know of no single source from the general period, including a favorite, Mary Boykin Chestnut of the South, which better accomplishes offering such insights than the one presented here. John Mack Faragher long ago noted the inherent problems in writing the history of the “inarticulate,” meaning mainly the lower economic classes.¹ While Caroline Crosby was far less well-off financially than was typical even of the working class,