The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

True Womanhood’s key tenant is piety. Martha embodies this trait, frequently writing about the text of church sermons, the attendance of Sabbath School, and her religious reflections on everyday experiences. She frequently notes that her son Paul asks questions about the Sabbath School lessons, and she answers them for him. Understanding True Womanhood’s emphasis on religion as woman’s jurisdiction illuminates Martha’s reasoning for placing so much value on it. Martha was also quite domestic, spending much of her time at home, supervising the hired help, cleaning, and making household necessities. Over the course of a few weeks in February, Martha notes that she made at least three feather mattresses. She also documents her progress on spring cleaning through the month of April, a task that her daughter Clara helped accomplish. Because Martha would have come of age during the reign of True Womanhood, some of the characteristics of a True Woman are apparent in her writings, including piety and domesticity. However, Martha doesn’t fit neatly into the mold of True Womanhood. Martha placed a great deal of emphasis on education. Almost every entry for every weekday in the first four months of 1900 contain a note about who is in school, and where. She takes pride in this, as a New Woman would have. She herself is educated, often mentioning books she has read, meetings she has attended, or conversations she has had. Martha also was a member and attendee of multiple societies mentioned throughout early 1900. She advocated for women’s rights as part of the WCTU, attended the Young Persons’ Meeting at church, and went to many congregational prayer meetings. Martha’s involvement in her community extend from the New Womanhood ideals she embodies. She often goes out, visiting friends and relatives - she isn’t contained to the home, because she is strong enough to go about on her own. She isn’t frail or weak, but independent. 180