New Women of the Old Faith

“A timely, enlightening book — required reading for those who wish to understand the religious landscape of the Progressive Era and the historical background of today’s culture wars. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“Fascinating. . . . Will assuredly appeal to anyone interested in the story of American Catholicism and the growth of the American immigrant church. . . . A fresh perspective on the struggles [of] Catholic women.” — America

“This well-written and finely nuanced book makes an important contribution to scholarship in Catholic history and American women’s history.” — The Catholic Historical Review

“Elegantly written. . . . This volume takes us to places we have never been before.” — American Catholic Studies

“An enjoyable read. . . . Cummings has exhausted scores of manuscript collections, newspapers, and secondary sources to construct a lively narrative that enhances our understanding of American women during the Progressive Era.” — Journal of American History

“Clear prose and sophisticated analysis. . . . Cummings' careful analysis encourages historians of women to consider the limits of the Second-Wave narrative.” — Reviews in American History

“Makes a major contribution to women’s history by taking seriously religion as a category of analysis for understanding Progressive Era reform impulses. . . . More than a study of Catholic reformers, this book helps us understand why many religious women rejected feminism and yet acted as feminists.” — Church History

“An important contribution. . . . With subtlety, insight, and detailed research, Cummings elucidates religion and gender in the Progressive Era by considering American Catholic women as important historical agents.” — Journal of Religion

“Exquisitely written. . . .A ground-breaking contribution to gender studies. . . . Will capture the interest of both armchair and professional historians.” — Annals of Iowa

“An important contribution. . . . Cummings’s strategy of explicating the dual identity of American Catholic women through the lives of four 'exceptional' women works exceedingly well. She expertly weaves between biography and social history, expanding her analysis outward onto broad issues. . . . With subtlety, insight, and detailed research, Cummings elucidates religion and gender in the Progressive Era by considering American Catholic women as important historical agents.” — Journal of Religion