Women's Voices from the Mother Lode; Tales from the California Gold Rush. Original illustrations by Kathleen R. Petersen by Butruille, Susan G - 1998

Boise ID: Tamarack Books, Inc, 1998. Paperback. 272p., numerous illustrations from period photography, modern sketches, and a line map; a sizeable bibliography and index are supplied. Softbound, a handsome 9x6 inch paperback with a marvellous embossed cover (credited), Condition appears to be fine, except that a former owner has lightly pencilled a few marginal arrows in the bibliography section, which we have left alone. A very good copy. Two secondary features are notable: one, an emphasis on multicultural miners and their families (with rare photographs), and two, trousers; there were plenty of women amongst the deluge of dudes and many of these women wore pants, some for convenience, some for preference. Because the wearers were frequently abused, even imprisoned, by males, we declare "crossdressing." Were there no such abuse there'd be no occasion to mention "pants." PS: the index records no instance of lesbiana.