This Grand Experiment: When Women Entered the Federal Workforce in Civil War-Era Washington, D.C.

353 Pages·2017·29.263 MB·English

by  Jessica Ziparo

This Grand Experiment
civil war ameri c a
Peter S. Carmichael, Caroline E. Janney, and Aaron Sheehan- Dean, editors
This landmark series interprets broadly the history and culture of the Civil
War era through the long nineteenth century and beyond. Drawing on diverse
approaches and methods, the series publishes historical works that explore all
aspects of the war, biographies of leading commanders, and tactical and
campaign studies, along with select editions of primary sources. Together,
these books shed new light on an era that remains central to our
understanding of American and world history.
jessica ziparo
This Grand Experiment
When Women Entered the Federal Workforce
in Civil War– Era Washington, D.C.
The University of North Carolina Press C hapel Hill
This book was published with the assistance of the Thornton H. Brooks
Fund of the University of North Carolina Press.
© 2017 The University of North Carolina Press
All rights reserved
Set in Arno Pro by Westchester Publishing Ser vices
Manufactured in the United States of Amer i ca
The University of North Carolina Press has been a member of the
Green Press Initiative since 2003.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Ziparo, Jessica, author.
Title: This grand experiment : when women entered the federal workforce
in Civil War– era Washington, D.C. / Jessica Ziparo.
Other titles: Civil War Amer i ca (Series)
Description: Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, [2017] | Series:
Civil War Amer i ca | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017013226 | ISBN 9781469635972 (cloth : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781469635989 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: United States— History— Civil War, 1861–1865— Women. |
Women— Employment— Washington (D.C.)— History—1 9th century. | Sex role—
Washington (D.C.)— History— 19th century. | United States— Officials and
employees— History— 19th century. | Women— United States— Social conditions—
History— 19th century. | Women’s rights— United States—H istory—1 9th century.
Classification: LCC E628 .Z58 2017 | DDC 973.7082— dc23
LC rec ord available at https: / / lccn . loc . gov / 2017013226
Cover illustrations: Top portraits from left to right: Unidentified w oman, photographed by
J. C. Potter (courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC- DIG-p pmsca-51386); Mary E. Walker,
photographed by J. Holyland (courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC- DIG- ppmsca-19911);
Jane Swisshelm, photographed by Joel Emmons Whitney (albumen silver print, National
Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution); Unidentified woman, photographed by
D. C. Dinsmore (courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC- DIG- ppmsca-51390);
Clara Barton, “from portrait taken in Civil War and authorized by her as the one she
wished to be remembered by” (courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC- USZ62-108564).
Center: View of Washington City, print by E. Sachse & Co. (courtesy of the Library of
Congress, LC-D IG- pga-02599). Bottom: From the front and back of U.S. ten dollar bill, 1863
(National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, courtesy of
Wikipedia . com).
As I wrote this book, my father, David Allen Ziparo, died
and my son, Zane David McHugh, was born.
This book is dedicated to them.
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Contents
Acknowl edgments xi
Introduction: We Are Not Playthings 1
chapter one
I Won der if I Cannot Make Application for an Appointment Too:
Women Join the Federal Workforce 15
chapter two
Telling Her Story to a Man: Applying for Government Work 3 9
chapter three
Teapots in the Trea sury of the Nation: Gendering Work and Space 67
chapter four
A Strange Time to Seek a Residence in Washington: Perils and
Possibilities of Life for Female Federal Clerks 100
chapter five
The Picked Prostitutes of the Land: Reputations of Female
Federal Employees 138
chapter six
I Am Now Exerting All My Thinking Powers: Women’s Strug gle
to Retain and to Regain Federal Positions 170
chapter seven
What Makes Us to Differ from Them?: The Argument for Equal
Pay in the Nation’s Capital 193
Epilogue: We Do Not Intend to Give Up 221
Notes 227
Bibliography 317
Index 333
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Illustrations
Treas ury Department printing the greenbacks 71
Treas ury Department cutting and separating room 75
Treas ury Department counting and counterfeit detection 82
Etching of the dead letter office 95
Ella Jackson 143
Behind the Scenes 149