Chandler O'Leary (–2023)

Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring's Dead Feminists: Historic Heroines in Living Color was born out of the beautiful historical broadsheets the duo printed to highlight some of the lesser-known yet fully impactful feminists throughout history. From historical preservationist Adina de Zavala to poets Sarojini Niadu and Gwendolyn Brooks, this book highlights and celebrates women throughout history for their contributions to art, science, politics and entertainment. Complete with broadsheet annotation on how they made each print, this book will delight your middle school and high school learners.… (plus d'informations)

This lovely book is one that could easily be read in one sitting but I took my time and savoured it. In theme, it is reminiscent of Brazen - Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World. But this is not actually a graphic novel. It is more a blending of art and history. The co-authors are a printmaker/letterpress artist, and an illustrator/letterer, both with backgrounds in graphic arts. This book started off as a project to create a poster in the style of the old-fashioned broadside, before Obama's first election, to throw their support behind him. Recognizing that whatever the election outcome, history was going to be made, they chose icon Elizabeth Cady Stanton for their first broadside.

There are 8 chapters in this book, each chapter profiling 3 dead feminists. The style of presentation unfolds over 6 pages. First, a few pages of biographical info, often with a photograph (if any were available in archives), and often including reprints of photos, documents or ephemera. The final 2 pages show the finished Broadside, and the opposite page highlights the quote being printed, and 6 *closer looks* at the broadside itself and the process of creating it. After much positive response to the first few in this project, the co-authors decided to donate part of their profits to local foundations that support women's good works and also, to turn the broadsides into a book. And, they also created a foundation, themselves: http://www.deadfeminsits.com.

Some of the women profiled in this book include (apart from Stanton) Rachel Carson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Virginia Woolf (her broadside is my favourite, I think), Marie Curie, Jane Mecom (did you know that she was Benjamin Franklin's sister? I didn't!), Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Sappho.

I can't tell you how lovely this book is. Visually, artistically, intellectually, historically, it's just beautiful. After looking at the website this morning, I ordered a pack of 10 postcards. Some I may send, some I will keep, maybe frame… (plus d'informations)