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Published October 24, 2006
She came to that realization while putting together histories of both sides of her family and learning about the fascinating people she discovered. "I had an epiphany," Burns said. "Up until then, history didn't mean much to me." Burns, who does her writing in the study at Highmeadow, her home on the Looking Glass River near Laingsburg, wrote her first two books about men. After meeting Gladys Beckwith, director of the Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame in Lansing, she decided to focus on women. "After I met her, I realized how many wonderful heroes were women," Burns said. "I don't think I could write enough to catch up on all the women who have been left out of the history books." "Bold Women in Michigan History" focuses on 15 women, most of whom are in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame but whose names are unfamiliar to many people. She's hoping her book will help change that. "Most of them were ordinary women," Burns said. "They weren't larger than life. Yet their actions changed the course of history in Michigan." The book was three years in preparation - two years of research and writing and one year of editing and revisions. "The hardest thing was working with my editor at Mountain Press Publishing and cutting each of the stories to 2,800 words," Burns said. "And my editor had an obsession with accuracy. It was a little frustrating at times, but it was worth the effort." Burns said she was "underfoot" at the Michigan Women's Historical Center for about two years while she did her research. "She used our records and came up with some wonderful historical material," said Beckwith. "I'm very impressed with the book. It's very readable and well-researched. She and I agree this is information that needs to get out to the general public." "This is a really great chance to learn about the courageous, committed women who made Michigan what it is today," said Sandra Chavez, director of the Laingsburg Public Library, who received an advance copy of the book. "The book is geared toward young adults, but my daughter who is in college and I both enjoyed it." Burns, 81, said she isn't sure what project she'll tackle next, although she has enough material already researched for another book on women important in Michigan history. "My goal is to be an active writer for another 10 years," she said. Contact Hugh Leach at 377-1119 or hleach@lsj.com. Michigan women with a message Women featured in the book "Bold Women in Michigan History" by Virginia Law Burns: • Marie-Therese Cadillac, who helped found the city of Detroit • Magdelaine LaFramboise, Odawa Indian woman who became a successful fur trader • Elizabeth Chandler and Laura Haviland, leaders in the anti-slavery movement • Lucy Thurman, civil rights leader • Emma Edmonds, Civil War soldier • Marguerite deAngeli, children's book author/illustrator • Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering, developers of the first successful whooping cough vaccine • Genevieve Gillette, conservationist instrumental in developing Michigan's park system • Sippie Wallace, blues singer • Cora Brown, the nation's first black female state senator • Myra Wolfgang, labor leader • Waunetta Dominic, champion of rights for American Indians • Delia Vellegas Vorhauer, leader in gaining rights for Latina women and for people with disabilities To purchase • The book is available through Burns' Web site or at the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame, 213 W. Main St., Lansing.
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