Epistolary Identity in the Homesteading Letters of Elinore
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Women Write the U.S. West: Epistolary Identity in the Homesteading Letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Elizabeth Corey, and Cecilia Hennel Hendricks by Alicia Skipper A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Approved November 2010 Graduate Supervisory Committee: Elizabeth Horan, Chair Patricia Boyd Susan Gray Eric Wertheimer ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY December 2010 ABSTRACT The early twentieth century saw changing attitudes in gender roles and the advancement of the "New Woman." Despite the decline in the availability of homesteading land in the US West, homesteading still offered a means for women to achieve or enact newfound independence, and the letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Elizabeth Corey, and Cecilia Hennel Hendricks offer a varied view of the female homesteading experience. This dissertation focuses upon the functionality of epistolary discourse from early twentieth century homesteading women within a literary and historical framework in order to establish the significance of letters as literary texts and examine the methodology involved in creating epistolary identities. Chapter one provides background on the history of the letter in America. It also as introduces a theoretical framework regarding life writing, feminism, and epistolary discourse that inform this study, by scholars such as Phillipe LeJeune, Leigh Gilmore, Janet Altman, Julie Watson, and Sidonie Smith. Chapter two delves into the published letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart and the way in which her writing, when situated within a US western literary framework, serves as a reaction to the masculine western hero. Chapter three considers the epistolary relationships evident in the letters of Elizabeth Corey and the construction of gender identity within epistolarity. Chapter four focuses upon Cecilia Hennel Hendricks and the historical and feminist context of her letters, with a particular emphasis upon the "love letter." The conclusion examines the progression of the ii letter in the twentieth century and forms of online discourse that can be directly linked to its evolution. Far from being simply a form of communication, these letters reveal the history of a time, a place, a people, function as narrative literary texts, and aid in developing identities. For readers and scholars they tell offer a glimpse into life for women in the early twentieth century and highlight the significance of letters as a literary form. iii DEDICATION For Nancy, Jon, and Michael. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee for working with me and taking the time out of their schedules to provide feedback and support. First of all, I cannot express the depth of my gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Horan, my director, who was involved in every step of this process from the development of the idea for my dissertation to responding extensively to each chapter multiple times. I appreciate her unwavering support and enthusiasm for my work, as well as the continual push to completion. Her guidance was crucial in enabling me to overcome the personal obstacles that I encountered in the course of this undertaking. Thank you to Patricia Boyd for her insights into feminist theory and online communication. She has been a presence throughout my entire ASU experience and I am thankful to have known her as both a professor and a friend. Dr. Susan Gray’s insights on history have been an integral part of this dissertation process as well. Our initial conversation in the early stages of this work helped me focus my direction and her theoretical suggestions were essential to informing my research. Thank you to Dr. Eric Wertheimer whose course in Colonial American Literature aided me in discussing the significance of letters in America. His insights and support have been invaluable. There are also too many friends and family who have been supportive throughout this process to name each individually, but I wish to extend a collective thanks. Of course, my mother Nancy Trembley who passed away in the summer of 2009 has always been and will remain a key influence on my life. v I would like to acknowledge my stepfather, Jon Trembley, who has always been unwavering in his support. Thank you for the many conversations and reassurances. I want to especially thank my husband, Michael Evans. He remained patient and steadfast throughout my meltdowns and mood swings and kept me focused on what truly matters. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………xi CHAPTER Page 1 INTRODUCTION THE NATURE OF EPISOLARITY .................................... 1 Letters As Genre ..............................................................................................2 Epistolary Conventionss ................................................................................. 9 The American Epistolary Novel ................................................................... 13 Gender and Letters ........................................................................................ 16 Letters as Historical Texts ............................................................................ 18 Letters As Autobiography ........................................................................22 Interest in the West and Homesteading .....................................................28 The Legality and Legacy of Homesteading...............................................37 Into The 20th Century.................................................................................41 Elinore Pruitt Stewart ................................................................................43 Three: Elizabeth Corey .............................................................................47 Four: Cecelia Hennel Hendricks................................................................50 Conclusion..................................................................................................55 2 MOVE OVER JOHN WAYNE:ELINORE PRUIT STEWART AND THE WESTERN HERO ............................................................................................. 60 Becoming a Woman Homesteader……………………………………. .... 62 Elinore Pruitt Stewart and The Atlantic Monthly......................................... 68 Feminizing the Western Hero ....................................................................... 73 vii CHAPTER Page A Cast of Characters ..................................................................................... 76 Humor and Caring on the U.S. Western Frontier......................................81 What Does Independence Mean to Women on the Frontier .....................88 Bridging the Distance ................................................................................93 Gender Roles and Domesticity..................................................................96 Communing With Nature ........................................................................100 Western Women Writers .........................................................................102 3 FROM ELIZABETH COREY TO BACHELOR BESS: AN EPISTOLARY TRANSFORMATION....................................................................................... 109 The Role of Editor....................................................................................... 109 Single Women Homesteaders ..................................................................... 111 Elizabeth Corey as Teacher ........................................................................ 112 The Epistolary Relationship ....................................................................116 “With Love, Bachelor Bess” ..................................................................127 On Firearms and Female Sharpshooters..................................................132 Bess on Marriage: “If troubles neffer come single for why should I get married?” .................................................................................................144 Bess as a “New Woman”.........................................................................148 The Power of Humor ...............................................................................150 Gender and Epistolary Identity.................................................................154 viii CHAPTER Page 4 CECELIA HENNEL HENDRICKS AND A HOMESTEADING LOVE STORY ...................................................................................................... 158 Editing as a Family Affair........................................................................... 159 Moving to Wyoming: “We feel today for the first time as if we were really beginning to live”........................................................................................ 164 Education and Background……………………………………...……...167 An Epistolary Record ..............................................................................170 “My Precious Sweetheart”: The Love Letter ..........................................174 Gender Roles and Amorous Discourse....................................................180 Creation of a Marriage.............................................................................184 Suffrage and Politics: “I am really politicking this week.” ....................186 On Writing and Wyoming .......................................................................190 Conclusion...............................................................................................194 5 CONCLUSION EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY.....................................................................................