This is a transcription of the preface from New Hampshire Women: A Collection of Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Daughters and Residents of the Granite State, Who are Worthy Representatives of their Sex in the Various Walks and Conditions of Life, The New Hampshire Publishing Co., Concord, NH, 1895, page 3.
Preface
This volume was designed, in its inception, as a companion volume to “New Hampshire Men,” published two years since. Its production has been effected under difficulties interfering greatly with its completeness, chief among which is the very general and often unconquerable aversion of woman to assent to anything which can in anyway be interpreted as the manifestation of a desire for publicity on her part. This aversion has not only greatly delayed the preparation of this volume but has absolutely prevented the presentation of many subjects that should have been among the most conspicuous in its list.
Nevertheless, incomplete as it may be, the book presents a goodly number of portraits and sketches of representative New Hampshire women, at home and abroad, some of whom are the most eminent daughters of the state, while all are worthy representatives of New Hampshire womanhood in its best estate, whether in literature, music, art, education, in professional, business, public, social and domestic life, or as laborers in the broad fields of charity and benevolence.
The compilation and preparation of the volume has been in charge of Henry H. Metcalf of Concord, who acknowledges his obligations for material assistance to Miss Marion H. Brazier of Boston, Mrs. Adelaide Cilley Waldron of Farmington, Miss Frances M. Abbott of Concord, Mrs. Emma H. Cass of Bristol, Mrs. Urania E. Bowers of Nashua and many others, who have taken a deep interest in the success of the work.
The New Hampshire Publishing Co.
Concord, N. H., December 1, 1895