The American Woman (series record)

The American Woman Series

This comprehensive 14-part series is a masterpiece of scholarly research that profiles women in America from the colonial era in the 1600′s, through the Abolition and Suffrage Movements in the 1800′s, including the ongoing struggle of women for social justice.

The American Woman was a produced and broadcast on KPFA by Virginia Maynard and Charles Levy from 1959 to 1960.

Part 1: Sinful Eve
On the long-standing view of woman's responsibility for man's sins. Contains a dramatization of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter." (28 min)

Part 2: A Woman Speaks
Dramatization of Ann Hutchison's trial for non-orthodox religious activities in colonial Massachusetts. (29 min)

Part 3: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
On women's view of their role in Colonial life. (29 min)

Part 4: Lucretia Mott
Biographical sketch of the life and actions of the feminist abolitionist. (28 min)

Part 5: Revolution
On the Beginnings of the feminist organizing in the mid-19th century, with a dramatization of Elizabeth Cady Stanton reading "Declaration of Independence for Women," and a dramatization of Sojourner Truth presenting her “Ain’t I A Woman” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1857. (27 min)

Part 6: Whistlin’ Girls
Dramatization of the Lucy Stone legend and the problems facing women who seek to be heard at public gatherings. (28 min)

Part 7: The Nineteenth Century Minerva
Examination of Margaret Feller and her writings which call for greater women's rights. (29 min)

Part 8: The Tree of Knowledge
On the gradual growth of opportunity for women to attain a secondary education during the early 1800s. (29 min)

Part 9: The Womanly Woman
Story about a woman aboard ship with a group of men. (29 min)

Part 10: Revolt of Mother
Dramatization of a woman rejecting the role imposed upon her by her husband. (29 min)

Part 11: The Room With the Yellow Wallpaper / written by Charlotte Perkins Gillman
Feminist play on the harm to society of sex discrimination. (29 min)

Part 12: A Question of Justice / written by Susan Glaspell
Reading of a short story about a woman on trial for murder. (28 min)

Part 13: Suffrage Victory
On the battle for women’s suffrage. (29 min)

Part 14: Panel Discussion on Women
Discussion of the woman's struggle for social equality. Panelists include Mark Shoerer, English literature professor at the University of California; Ethel Albert, anthropologist; Dr. Anna Minkin, Berkeley psychiatrist; Peter Odegard, professor of political science at the University of California; Miriam Allen DeFord, writer; and Virginia Maynard, writer and director of "The American Woman" series. (56 min)