There are three sets of women in this book with the stories of each time sequence in order. The first part is about five indigenous leaders that are connected. They are: Elizabeth Mitchell, Madeline Laframboise, Therese Schindler, Agatha Biddle and Elizabeth T. Baird. The second part is about the literature of witnesses by writers. In the third part the time era is woven from the late 19th century to the early 20th century women were Constance Fenimore Woolson, Rosa Truscott Webb, Daisy Blodgett and Stella King. The women were successful in businesses or the written word. In this book the women were community caregivers and educators. They made Mackinac Island what it has become today. The biographies in this nonfiction book is fascinating and gave me knowledge about the Mackinac Island history that I did not know. I had always wondered about its history. I visited this place with my parents when I was young and later with my college girlfriend. I never could figure out why it existed as it did. I would love to go back now knowing the history It’s a terrific book to read.

Deeply researched, interesting history of women who were integral to the history of Michigan’s Mackinac area. Again, this is more history we didn’t get from school. Definitely worth reading, especially for Michigan residents who only think of vacation when they hear of Mackinac.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy.

Great Women of Mackinac, 1800-1950 by Melissa Croghan was an interesting and true history of the women who lead on on Mackinac Island in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I can honestly say I knew nothing of these women before reading this!

This was a solid read with obvious research done. Mackinac is rich with history and one of our favorite locations to visit. Learning more about the people that helped shaped Mackinac’s history was what drew me to this book. It delivered and I have more appreciation for the island than it just being a vacation destination.