In 1944, Mary Ritter Beard gave a speech at Radcliffe College called “The Historical Approach to Learning about Women.” In it, she argued for a sense of urgency in uncovering and including the accomplishments of women in the historical record.
“Without knowledge of women in history as actual history,” Beard said, “dead women are sheer ghosts to living women — and to men.”
Beard believed that women had been active historical agents throughout history, but that their contributions have been left out of the historical record. She stressed that history could not be properly understood if the significance of women’s contributions were not fully recognized.
Sheer Ghosts aims to support Beard’s mission by highlighting and amplifying the stories of women who have made or are making important contributions to our world in order that we may have a deeper and richer understanding of our history.
I’m a former journalist and permanent student who is fascinated by questions of how women come to be excluded from the historical record and passionate about revealing the contributions of women which are so often overlooked.
After studying, living, and working in the U.S. until I was 40, I moved to London where I got a Master’s degree in World History and Culture at King’s College London. Since then I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and writing about women and history.
Thanks for stopping by. Sheer Ghosts is a community that believes in diversity, inclusion, and kindness. If you want to leave a comment, please keep this in mind. Sheer Ghosts also seeks to tell the stories of women from the broadest range of religions, regions, races, identities, ages, abilities, and backgrounds. I’d love to hear any story about any woman you fear is in danger of becoming a ghost.
Kathleen Hogan Ehrlich
Sheer Ghosts 