The Women of the Postage Stamps—Part 5

by Jennifer Uhlarik 

Happy June, everybody! This year of 2026 is nearly half over already, and I’m simply shocked! Aren’t you?

 

Let’s continue with our series on the women who have been featured on the U.S. Postage Stamps. Last month, we left off with stamps issued in 1981. Today, we pick up in the same year with Edna St. Vincent Millay. Millay picked up the pen early in life, writing poetry from childhood until her death. After entering a poem in a contest where one judge prematurely awarded her first prize, then had that award stripped and came in fourth overall, she gained a bit of notoriety. This led to a supporter offering to send her to Vassar College in 1917. Her time there wasn’t exactly peaceful, as Millay refused to live by the code of ethics for young ladies. However, she managed to graduate, and during the 1920s, Millay rose to fame through her lyrical poetry. In 1928, she became the second person (and first woman) to ever win a Pulitzer Prize. During World War II, she joined the Writers’ War Board, where she wrote propaganda for the American war effort. Her fame as a poet took a hit because of this, though Millay didn’t allow that to stop her. She died in 1950 after breaking her neck due to a fall down the stairs in her home.

 

Our next lady of the stamp is Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Before she became a renowned in other ways, Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrickson competed in and won sewing competitions, as well as made some professional music recordings. Her major claim to fame, though, was as an amateur athlete in multiple sports. While working as a secretary for an insurance company, Babe was allowed to compete on the company’s amateur team in basketball. She was named an All-American athlete for her work on this team three years in a row, and in 1932 they even competed in the championship. During the same timeframe, she represented the same company in the 1932 Amateur Athletic Union Championships, where she entered eight of ten events and won first place in five of them. Later the same year, she represented the United States in track and field events in the Summer Olympics, where she brought home three medals—two golds and a silver. She also competed in baseball, bowling, billiards…but her greatest claim to fame was in golf. Babe Zaharias was the first woman to ever compete in a regular PGA tournament, was a founding member of the LPGA when it was created a few years after she took up the sport, and was said by New York Times writer Charles McGrath that “Except for perhaps Arnold Palmer, no golfer has ever been more beloved by the gallery.”

 

Dr. Mary Walker is the next woman featured on a postage stamp, this time in 1982. I’ve written about Dr. Walker before, so if you’d like more information on her, please refer to my earlier post here. She was an abolitionist, a Civil War surgeon, a prisoner of war for four months during 1864, received a medal of honor, and fought for women’s suffrage and many other things after the war’s end.

 

In 1982, Dorothea Dix earned her place in postal history due to her work for the poor and indigent mentally ill. It was during a stay in Europe during the 1830s that Dix first became aware of the plight of the mentally ill. After returning to America, she began to investigate how the mentally ill were treated when they had no family who could or would take care of them. In Massachusetts, she found that many were locked away in the darkest basement cells in prisons or almshouses, relegated to the areas reserved for the worst criminals. The air was often putrid and foul, with no light by which to see. After presenting her findings to the state legislature, she moved on to a similar task in New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, and many other states. All told, her efforts resulted in opening thirty-two mental hospitals in various states, as well as schools for children with learning disabilities, schools for the blind, and nursing schools.

 

Next up is Pearl S. Buck, a renowned novelist best known for The Good Earth, which earned her a Pulitzer Prize. Raised by her missionary parents in China, Buck spent much of her life in this country, developing a deep love for it and its people. Many of her writings focused on her experiences in China and Japan. After moving back to the United States, Buck spent her later years advocating for the adoption of mixed-race children from other countries. She began the first foster home for such children, located next to her own home—and when it quickly became too crowded for simply fostering these kids, she turned it into the first international adoption agency. She also started orphanages in various other countries.

 

As we wind down our post for today, let’s take a look at Lillian M. Gilbreath, who was featured on a postage stamp in 1984. This interesting lady was mother two twelve children, and also both a psychologist and an industrial engineer. Along with her husband Frank, she paired her two areas of expertise to do studies on how workers used machinery and find ways to streamline those machines to make them more productive. She and Frank were on the cutting edge of this burgeoning industry of “industrial and organizational psychology” (a precursor to our modern-day ergonomics). The husband and wife team worked with many large companies like Macy’s and Johnson & Johnson, and after Frank’s death, Lillian continued her business. She also found ways to streamline the tasks of the typical housewife to make her household chores and duties faster, so that she could seek work outside the home. In that vein, Lillian is credited with created the “work triangle” setup of many modern kitchens. Two of her children—Frank Jr. and Ernestine—wrote two humorous books about life in the Gilbreath family. You’ll certainly recognize at least one of the titles. They were Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes.

 

It’s Your Turn: Which of the women who were honored with their own stamp do you find the most memorable, and why?

 

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered western novels at twelve when she swiped the only “horse” book from her brother’s bookshelf. Across the next decade, she devoured westerns and fell in love with the genre. While attaining a B.A. in writing from the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. She has finaled in and won numerous writing competitions and appeared on various best-seller lists. Besides writing, she’s been a business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, a historical researcher, a publisher, and a full-time homemaker. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband and fur children.

 

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Separated as children when they were adopted out to different families from an orphan train, the Braddock siblings have each grown up and taken on various jobs within law enforcement and criminal justice.

 

Youngest child, Callie, has pushed past her insecurities to pursue a career as a Pinkerton agent. Middle child, Andi, has spent years studying law under her adoptive father’s tutelage. And the eldest and only son, Rion, is a rough-and-tumble bounty hunter. 

 

When the hunt for a serial killer with a long history of murders reunites the brother and sisters in Cambria Springs, Colorado, they find themselves not only in a fight for justice, but also a fight to keep their newly reunited family intact. How will they navigate these challenges when further complicated by unexpected romances?

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker - The First Female US Army Surgeon and Medal of Honor Recipient

By Mary Dodge Allen 

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (Public Domain)

More than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since it was authorized in 1861, but only one of them has been awarded to a woman - Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. She served as a surgeon for the Union Army during the Civil War, and she was also captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Confederate Army.

Her Childhood:

Mary Edwards Walker was born on November 26, 1832 on her family's farm in Oswego, New York. She was the youngest of seven children. Her parents, Alvah and Vesta Walker were devoted Christians who opposed slavery and believed in equality for all, including equal rights for men and women.

The Walkers lived out their beliefs. Mary's father Alvah shared the housework, Mary's mother Vesta helped with the heavy farm work, and all of their children did an equal share of farm chores. They believed traditional female clothing was impractical - the tight corsets restricted circulation, and the long billowing skirts were unsanitary, since they often brushed against muddy ground. They made sure their daughters grew up wearing practical clothing, like trousers under shorter dresses. 

Mary Edwards Walker as a young teen (Elliott and Fry Photographers)

The Walkers also made sure their daughters received the same education as their son. They founded the first free school house in Oswego on their farm in the 1830's. Mary Walker finished her schooling at Falley Seminary in Fulton, NY. After graduation, Mary worked as a teacher in Minetto, NY. 

Her father had always kept a number of medical texts in the house, and Mary loved reading them. They sparked her desire to pursue a career in medicine. She patiently saved up her teaching salary until she could pay for her entire medical school tuition.

Medical Training and Early Career:

Mary Walker was the only woman in her class at New York's Syracuse Medical College. She received a medical degree with honors in 1855. (Mary was the second woman in America to receive a medical degree. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first, graduating from Geneva Medical College, NY in 1849.)

Mary Edwards Walker, taken around the time she attended college (Public Domain)

Soon after graduation, Mary married one of her medical college classmates, Albert Miller. True to her beliefs, Mary wore a mid-length dress over trousers and a top hat at her wedding. She omitted the word 'obey' from her vows, and she kept her own last name. They moved to Rome, NY and opened a medical practice together. But Dr. Mary Walker wasn't accepted as a female physician, and she often endured ridicule. Shortly before the Civil War began, Mary separated from Albert Miller, citing infidelity. Their divorce became final after the war. 

Civil War Experience:

Mary tried to enlist in the Union Army, but she was rejected because she was a woman. She then volunteered to serve as a surgeon in the Union Army, even though she would be listed as a nurse on her military records. Her first post in 1861 was at a temporary army hospital in Washington, D.C.

During the war, a staggering amount of arm and leg amputations were performed. Dr. Mary Walker was a staunch advocate of patient rights. If she determined amputation wasn't warranted after examining a wounded soldier, she would advise him that he had the right to refuse amputation. "In almost every instance," she said, "I saw amputation was not only unnecessary, but to me it seemed wickedly cruel."

Civil War Surgeon Kit (National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick, MD)

Mary was assigned to battlefield duty and served during the First Battle of Bull Run (1862); the Battle of Fredericksburg (1862); the Battle of Chickamauga (1863); and Atlanta (1864). Dr. Mary Walker designed a practical Union surgeon's uniform, wearing a Union jacket and a mid-length skirt over Union trousers. But she left her hair long and wore it curled up, so - in her words - "anyone could know I was a woman." Mary could have posed as a man, as many women did back then, so they could serve in the military. But she wanted to be recognized for who she was - a competent female surgeon.

Dr. Mary Walker in her Union Surgeon's Uniform, with Union hat (Public Domain)

Throughout the war, she repeatedly petitioned Union Army officials, requesting an Army Surgeon commission. After the Battle of Fredericksburg, where the Union suffered over 13,000 casualties, one of the doctors who had worked with Mary - and was impressed by her skill - wrote to the Secretary of War asking him to give her a commission. After two years of working in the battlefield, Dr. Mary Walker was finally promoted to Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian) in the Army of the Cumberland. Later in the war, she was assigned as a civilian surgeon for the 52nd Ohio Infantry.

Civil War Medical Tent (Heritage Images)

Prisoner of War:

Dr. Mary Walker often crossed into enemy territory to treat badly wounded Confederate soldiers. In April 1864, a Confederate sentry arrested her as a Union spy while she was crossing alone on horseback. She spent the next four months in the Castle Thunder prison near Richmond, VA.

Castle Thunder Prison (Public Domain)

As a female prisoner, she caused quite a stir when she refused to change into women's clothes. A Confederate Captain wrote:

"(I was)... amused and disgusted... at the sight of a thing that nothing but the debased and depraved Yankee nation could produce... (she) was dressed in the full uniform of a Federal surgeon... not good-looking and of course had tongue enough for a regiment of men."

Dr. Mary Walker was released in a prisoner exchange with at least fourteen other physicians. After her release, the army officially commissioned her as Acting Assistant Surgeon, thus making her the nation's first female US Army Surgeon. She received a salary of $100 per month, plus $434.66 in back pay.

Medal of Honor:

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker received the Medal of Honor from President Andrew Johnson in November 1865. The citation read: 

Dr. Walker has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war. **

Dr. Mary Walker's Medals

Later Life:

Dr. Walker's physical health had declined during her wartime service, especially during her time in prison. Her eyesight also began deteriorating. She devoted her later years to the cause of equal rights for women, and she wrote several articles and books, drawing on her personal experiences. 

Dr. Walker in later life (Wikipedia)

She continued to endure ridicule for wearing men's clothes, and she was often arrested and put on trial for "impersonating a man." During one trial, Dr. Walker stated she had the right, "to dress as I please in free America, on whose tented fields I have served for four years in the cause of human freedom." The judge dismissed her case and instructed the police to never arrest her again.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, circa 1912 (Public Domain)

Dr. Walker was active in the women's suffrage movement, and she testified before Congress in 1912, advocating every woman's right to vote. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1890; and the Senate in 1892. She died at the age of 86 in 1919, one year before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. She had a simple funeral, with an American flag draped over her coffin. And according to her wishes, she was buried in a suit and tie. 

** In 1917, the Medal of Honor award given to Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was rescinded when the criteria for the medal was restricted to having "actual combat with the enemy." After 60 years of lobbying by her supporters and descendants, her medal was restored in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. She remains the only female Medal of Honor recipient.

_______________

Mary Dodge Allen is the winner of a 2022 Christian Indie Award, a 2022 Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the local police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has worked as a Teacher, Counselor and Social Worker. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate. She is a member of the Florida Writer's Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Books

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker--Fashion Rebel

Dr. Mary E Walker
wearing her Medal of Honor

Last month, I shared with you about the interesting woman, Dr. Mary E. Walker, who is the only woman to receive the U.S. Military’s highest award—the Medal of Honor. Well, there were other interesting details about her that I didn’t share, and I thought it would make another great post for this month.

Aside from being a female doctor at a time when such professions tended to be ruled by men, Dr. Mary Walker was also an abolitionist and a fighter for women’s rights. She fought for women’s suffrage, equal rights for women in divorce situations, the ability for women to keep their maiden names after marriage—and for women’s fashion reforms.

Many of us today tend to look at the Victorian era fashions with a bit of whimsy or romance. We see the big skirts, the bustles, the fancy dresses and think they were lovely styles. But for the women of that day, it was quite an ordeal to get dressed. To give you an idea of the layers a woman in the Victorian age would wear, here’s a rundown:

Stockings and Drawers

The “drawers” were a lightweight pair of pants, usually with a drawstring waist or sometimes a button closure and split down the middle “for convenience.”

Chemise

A lightweight, shapeless garment that hung from the shoulders. It had a drawstring neck and was usually sleeveless.

Corset

Many of us are familiar with the corset—the whale-boned garment that gave Victorian women (and some fashion-conscious men) their wasp-waisted shapes. These garments featured a busk closure at the front and were laced tightly at the back.

Corset Cover

A light over-garment meant to protect the corset from dirt, sweat, body oils, etc.

Under Petticoats

This is a very plain underskirt made of stiffened material. It had a drawstring at the waist and was meant to provide the fullness they desired under their outer dress. Women would wear up to six of these under petticoats unless they were wearing a…

Victorian Crinoline/Hoop Skirt

If a woman was wearing one of these—a stiff, cage-type contraption that created the very full silhouette found in Antebellum or Victorian era fashions—then only one under petticoat was needed.

Over Petticoat

The final undergarment layer, this petticoat would fit over the hoop or crinoline. The over petticoat was a more decorative skirt, often with elaborate embroidered hem.

Dress

Finally, we reach the lovely dress, which consisted of a jacket-style top, which buttoned down the front and a very full skirt to fit over the mounds of petticoats on the bottom half.

Bonnet and Gloves

The final piece to the ensemble was the mandatory bonnet and gloves, worn anytime a Victorian woman was out in public.

So with this snapshot of the typical nine layers of clothing a Victorian woman would wear, now think about trying to work in such an ensemble. The weight alone would be prohibitive, particularly when you consider most of the burden is tied around the waist. Another factor keeping women from working freely on household chores or other such things would be the constriction of the corset on the upper body. Corsets were often laced so tightly, women broke ribs, their internal organs shifted position, digestion was impeded, and they even made becoming “in the family way” more difficult. A third prohibition to such attire was the fact that the many layers of clothing dragged the ground, trapping dust and dirt, and as was discovered by Louis Pasteur in the 1860s, germs. All these things—as well as the fact that the skirt silhouette was so large that women often caught their clothes on fire when tending fires or cooking.

The Bloomer Dress

So there were many reasons that Dr. Mary Walker and others began fighting to change the fashions of their age through the National Dress Reform Association. A friend and fellow activist—Amelia Jenks Bloomer—created an interesting, if controversial, ensemble for women to wear. It paired a knee-length skirt with a pair of Middle-Eastern-style trousers (or bloomers) underneath. Some women chose to wear the rather startling style, but they were often decried in newspapers, bullied in the streets, and thought to have lost the allure by most in the court of public opinion.

Dr. Mary E Walker
wearing male-styled attire.

Dr. Mary later took to wearing men’s clothing styles, despite the backlash among society. When she was captured during the Civil War while attempting to treat wounded behind enemy lines, she was given clothing to wear at the prison camp. However, she flatly refused, stating she would wear the clothing (men’s pants and shirt) she had come in with, since it was better suited for her circumstances. After the war, she was arrested more than once for “dressing against her sex” or “impersonating a man.” When she faced the judge, she informed him and all in the courtroom that “I don’t wear men’s clothes. I wear my own clothes.” She also made it know that she should have the right “to dress as I please in free America on whose tented fields I have served for four years in the cause of human freedom.” After that, the judge agreed, dismissed the case, and warned the police to never arrest her again for any fashion-related incident.

Mary’s efforts had little effect on the overall fashion of the day, though some women did give up wearing corsets or opted for pants with a shorter skirt over them for better freedom of movement while working. But you can certainly see that Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a woman born too early—and she was born with enough gumption to fight the mores and standards of a very prim and proper time.

Dr. Mary Walker in a bloomer dress

It’s your turn: Were you aware of how cumbersome Victorian women’s fashions were, and if you’d lived in that day, would you have gone with the bulk of society to wear those fashions, or would you have come down on the side of the fashion rebels and reformers?

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has won and finaled in numerous writing competitions. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. She currently writes historical novellas of the American West for Barbour Publishing and works as a Content Editor for Firefly Southern Fiction. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.

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