Meet the biographer who had the heart, vision, and literary skills to rescue a trailblazing journalist from unwarranted obscurity.                    

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Independent Women’s Forum is delighted to announce that Melanie Kirkpatrick, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of a splendid biography of Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential 19th century editor who deserves to be better remembered than has been the case, is our latest entry into our popular series of Champion Women profiles. ([link removed])

Kirkpatrick, whose byline you will recognize from her distinguished career at the Wall Street Journal, did such a great job of rescuing Hale from unwarranted obscurity in her fascinating book “Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman,” that in a way this Champion Women profile is about two inspiring women: Kirkpatrick and Hale.

Biographer and subject are brilliantly matched: both are thought leaders of their day. And, I have to say it: both are ladylike intellectuals. Although she has been called a “proto-feminist,” Sarah Josepha Hale — editor of the most widely circulated magazine in antebellum America, promoter of female writers, and influential advocate for women’s education — never quite made it into the pantheon of feminist leaders. She was a feminist, though, with perhaps with some distinct views of her own on the role of women in society, right?

“Absolutely,” replies Kirkpatrick. “I’m reluctant to comment on the traditional feminists because that wasn’t the subject of my book. But let me give you a little background that could be helpful. First, I think it’s important to note that 20 years before the famous women’s-rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, Sarah Josepha Hale was writing, and I will say evangelizing, for greater opportunities for women. In particular, she was tremendously influential in the area of promoting women’s education.”

Hale would appreciate Kirkpatrick’s stellar career in journalism — though like Kirkpatrick, she might have been discouraged by the state of journalism itself. In addition to her work at the Wall Street Journal, Kirkpatrick is author of “Escape from North Korea: The Untold Story of Asia’s Underground Railroad.”

Hale and Kirkpatrick met, you might say, because each had a great interest in the great American celebration of Thanksgiving.

Hale, who promoted the ideal of making Thanksgiving a national holiday, has been dubbed the “Godmother of Thanksgiving.” One can imagine Hale’s pleasure if she could read Kirkpatrick’s book, which contains a fun appendix of historic Thanksgiving recipes — of “receipts,” as Hale called them.

We know you will enjoy meeting these two accomplished and inspiring women and learning about two outstanding female journalists.
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Sincerely,

Charlotte Hays
Cultural Director
Independent Women's Forum

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