Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers

by Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford

Book Overview

Hundreds of American women have kept the lamps burning in lighthouses since Hannah Thomas tended Gurnet Point Light in Plymouth, Massachusetts, while her husband was away fighting in the War for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0963641204
• ISBN13: 9780963641205
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Cypress Communications
• Length: 183 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 7.0" x 0.5"

Customer Reviews

A unique and informative contribution to Lighthouse history

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Women Who Kept The Lights: An Illustrated History Of Female Lighthouse Keepers continues to be a unique and informative contribution to Lighthouse histories and studies. In an occupation dominated by males, Mary Louise and Candace Clifford reveal the names of 141 women who received official keeper appointments in the lighthouse service. More than twice that number received appointments as assistant keepers. Most of this number were wives, widows or daughters of former keepers, beginning with Hannah Thomas at Plymouth Light on the Massachusetts coasts in 1776 (her husband went off to fight the British), and ending with Fannie Salter, who tended the Turkey Point Light on Chesapeake Bay from her husband's death in 1925 until she retired in 1947. It was only with the introduction of automated lights by the U.S. Coast Guard in the 20th Century that the lighthouse keepers became obsolete and passed into history. "Must" reading for lighthouse history enthusiasts and women's studies groups, Women Who Kept The Lights wonderfully details the careers of 30 of these vigorous women.