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More Than Just Penny Capitalists: The Range of Female Entrepreneurship in Mid-Nineteenth-Century US Cities

In: Female Entrepreneurs in the Long Nineteenth Century

Author

Listed:
  • Susan Ingalls Lewis

    (State University of New York at New Paltz)

Abstract

Relying primarily on credit records, this chapter describes the wide range of female entrepreneurship in over 30 locations across the United States between 1840 and 1885, proving that women owned and managed businesses far larger than the expected microenterprises. Using records linkage with the census, city directories and newspaper articles, Susan Lewis demonstrates that in addition to businesswomen described as ‘worth 00’ or ‘just making a living’, were those characterised as ‘making money’, ‘the best in her line’, ‘good for all she will buy’ and even as capitalists. These proprietors include milliners and dressmakers, grocers, plus bakers and confectioners, owners of breweries and saloons, hotels and boarding houses, dealers in dry and fancy goods, trimmings, hair goods, newspapers, books, pianos and wallpaper.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Ingalls Lewis, 2020. "More Than Just Penny Capitalists: The Range of Female Entrepreneurship in Mid-Nineteenth-Century US Cities," Palgrave Studies in Economic History, in: Jennifer Aston & Catherine Bishop (ed.), Female Entrepreneurs in the Long Nineteenth Century, edition 1, chapter 0, pages 243-265, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palscp:978-3-030-33412-3_10
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-33412-3_10
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