This was a very well-researched and well-written biography about a woman that isn't very well known, but has made some important contributions to history. Easy to read and very interesting, Jabour takes the reader through the life of a woman who was part of key moments in American history. I'm not huge on biographies, but I found myself absolutely captivated while reading this. I highly recommend this book to everyone - women like this who helped shape history should not be forgotten!

Sophonisba Breckenridge
Championing Women’s Activism in Modern America
By Anya Jabour

The idea of a female lawyer in the late 19th century wasn’t exactly welcome, yet Sophonisba Breckenridge was focused on studying law and joining her father’s law firm. The main goal was to make an impact in social policy reform and education. Most of her initial setbacks were due to being the eldest daughter and the expectations thereof which meant interrupting her education more than once to be a caregiver to a sick mother as well as other family members, nanny, run the household, and tutor younger siblings.
Breckenridge managed to litigate a few cases in Kentucky, where she was admitted to the bar in 1892. She also, through determination and hard work, achieved a list of firsts including: first woman to earn a Ph.D. in political science at the University of Chicago, the first female graduate of the UChicago’s Law School, the first woman to be granted a named professorship, and later co-founded UChicago’s School of Social Service Administration.
This short list of her accomplishments makes it difficult to understand why Breckenridge, who authored over a dozen books, isn’t as widely known as Jane Addams and other women pioneers in education and social reform. Though it’s true she never sought the spotlight for herself, there exists no credible reason why she’s ignored in other discussions about this work.
Thankfully historian Anya Jabour, like Sophonisba Breckenridge, is also persistent and a practitioner of passionate patience, spend ten years researching this remarkable woman’s story for us.
It’s a magnificent work, and should be required reading in colleges and high schools.

Sophonisba Breckinridge was a force to be reckoned with. Her struggles for change began at the time of the civil war and continued right up until the beginning of the cold war era. She did so much, fought for so much reform, she learned so much and empowered the learning of others yet she has for the most part been over looked. Before reading this book I had never heard of her. This book is so enlightening and contains important information that should be imparted to all, state side and across the water. She impowered women and fought for societal change. She is not somebody who should be forgotten or over looked. This book went into huge detail. It was very well researched and for that reason I suppose at times was a little heavy going. I did enjoy it though and learned a lot from it. I give it 3 and a half stars as I think it is a very worthwhile read.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book

Sophonisba Breckinridge was a founder of modern-day social policy who is said to be the first person to run a Womens' Studies course. She was a feminist, actively engaged with social issues, such as racial equality and poverty. However: her status as a woman; her collaborative methods; her interest in various issues; and time in history, positioned between the first and second waves of feminism, have made Sophonisba Breckinridge invisible to history.

This book seeks to rectify that omission. Anya Jabour has explored Sophonisba Breckinridge’s: early life, and attitudes to race; her time in University, her academic career; and her various political roles. This book is a brilliant picture of both; its’ subject and the time that she lived. It is well worth a read.

Sophonisba Breckinridge was a remarkable woman who had a remarkable life and career but one who has been unjustly neglected by history. This is now rectified in this thoroughly researched and compelling biography which I found both informative and entertaining. As author Anya Jabour says Breckinridge was “a powerful force for social justice” throughout her life, working tirelessly for poor and disadvantaged women, particularly immigrants, and was also a tireless advocate for peace, even influencing the formation of the UN. Rights for women was always at the forefront of her work, and she was a determined and independent advocate for them. She was a feminist before the term was even used and a role model for all the campaigning women who came after her. An excellent biography of a fascinating woman.

A well-researched book, about a woman I'd never heard of!
It was quite hard going in the sense that it is well researched & full of detail rather than flowing as a novel, but I am pleased that I persevered with it.

Disclaimer: I received this book as an advance reader copy free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Thanks to Net Galley and Illinois Press for the chance to read and review this book.

This was a very well researched book about an interesting subject. I like to read books about women who came before me and worked for the rights I now enjoy. The author also showed a great passion for this subject.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased


I really enjoyed this

You can see the author's passion for her subject in every word

This is a well-researched and well written book on a subject that is relatively new to me. I feel privileged to have been able to read this advanced copy

Highly recommended

Anya Kanpur did a thorough research on this subject and it is easy to read. This is a interesting and a important subject.