Frontiers of Decorum

Giovanni Boccaccio, De mulieribus claris (Ulm: Johannes Zainer, ca. 1474). Inc B-720

One of Giovanni Boccaccio’s most popular works, De mulieribus claris is a collection of biographical sketches of famous women, historical and mythological, admirable and criminal. Written in the 1360s, it was much circulated and inspired many other writers, including Christine de Pizan and Geoffrey Chaucer. This German translation by Heinrich Steinhöwel (1412-1482) was printed by Johannes Zainer in Ulm ca. 1474. Dedicated to Eleanore of Scotland, Archduchess of Austria (1433-1480), it is illustrated with numerous hand-colored woodcuts depicting scenes from the lives of the women chronicled (Eve, Medea, Helen, Sappho, Cleopatra, Pope Joan …) with an emphasis on sex and violence.

The high-way woman, or, A true and perfect narrative of the wicked life, and deplorable death of Marcy Clay, otherwise called Jenny Fox : who, being condemned to be hanged with other malefactors at Tyburn on Wednesday, the 12th of April instant, did on the Tuesday fore-going poyson her self, to avoid the shame of that kind of death, faithfully collected, for a warning to others, by one who hath too much cause to have knowledge of her conversation ([London: Printed by T.L., 1665]). 828C T673

Marcy Clay (commonly known by her alias Jenny Fox), at the age of 15, moved to London where she apparently began a life of crime.  Indeed, she “by a continued practice” was considered “so experienced that she hath not had any more remarkable before her, nor hath left any equal behind her,” (page 2).  Soon she moved on to dressing like a man to commit highway robbery.  This little volume describes in detail her many crimes, her arrests and subsequent escapes, and her eventual conviction and sentencing where she “swore blasphemously and desperately that she would not be hanged,” (page 10).  Just before her execution she drank “off her deadly draught, which was 4. Papers of White Mercury, poured into a Flaggon of Beer” (page 11), dying before her executioners could do the deed themselves.

Cordelia Stark, A female wanderer, or, The remarkable disclosures of Cordelia and Edwin, written by herself (Boston: Wentworth & Co., 1857) from the Caroline F. Schimmel Fiction Collection of Women in the American Wilderness. Schimmel Fiction 4566

This is the fictional story of Cordelia Krats, who, because women of the 19th century could not travel unaccompanied, spent more than two years dressed like a man in order to explore the world.  This adventurous tale of a woman traveling incognito in a man’s world takes the reader to boarding houses, merchant ships, and a brothel, describing near murder, working on the ship, and homesickness for her family.  Before Cordelia’s eventual return to living as a woman and reuniting with her love, Edwin, she is satisfied that “in [her] devious wanderings, [she became] thoroughly acquainted with mankind and their various passions,” (page 46)

Automobile Lillian, the girl bandit : Adventurous night of a tender-hearted girl in a stolen automobile : her experience with the sheriff, and her love for "Texas Joe," the hardy plainsman : tragic death of heroine (South Norwalk, Conn.: The Royal Novelty Co., not before 1913) from the Caroline F. Schimmel Fiction Collection of Women in the American Wilderness. Schimmel Fiction 1

Automobile Lillian, a girl from Arizona, “added her name to the long list of those daring men and women who have made the history of our great West replete with wonderful deeds of great courage,” but instead of employing the pony express, the stage coach, or horses, it “remained for a woman to discover and use the automobile in the same kind of work that made the James Brothers famous throughout the world.”  This tale tells the story of Lillian who stole from rich for the poor and the melodramatic description of her attempted escape in a car.

Frederick L. Collins, Glamorous Sinners (New York: Printed in the United States of America by J. J. Little & Ives Company, 1932). AC9 C6936 932g

Harry K. Thaw, The traitor, being the untampered with, unrevised account of the trial and all that led to it (Philadelphia: Dorrance and Company Publishers, [c1926]). AC9 T3309 926t

Both Glamorous Sinners and The Traitor tell the story of Evelyn Nesbit and the men whose actions took them far over the edge of decorum.  On June 25, 1906, Harry K. Thaw murdered architect Stanford White on the roof garden theatre of Madison Square Garden (a building White had designed) in retribution for his actions towards Thaw’s wife, actress and chorus girl, Evelyn Nesbit.  Prior to her 1905 marriage to Thaw, when Evelyn was either 14 or 16, Stanford White sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. When she was forced to tell Thaw about this, he became obsessed with White.  Before you get excited about Thaw acting in Nesbit’s best interests, it is important to know that Thaw, the millionaire son of a Pittsburgh coal and railroad tycoon, had a history of mental illness and was reported to have sexually and physically assaulted Nesbit himself. In what was termed “The Trial of the Century,” by the press, Thaw was apparently shocked that he would be considered guilty when he had rid the world of the likes of Stanford White.  Not surprisingly, Thaw ended up being found insane (on more than one occasion during more than one trial for more than one crime).

Belle Starr photographs from the Burton Rascoe papers, 1890-1957 (bulk: 1920-1957). Ms. Coll. 1145

Burton Rascoe researched and wrote a book, Belle Starr, “The Bandit Queen,” about an outlaw arrested for stealing horses and eventually killed in 1889. Belle’s actual role in the Younger, James, and Starr gangs, who were active throughout Texas, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, is unknown (although she is rumored to have married both a Younger and a Starr, in addition to Jim Reed), but she spent time in prison and two (yes, two) of her husbands were gunned down by the police.  Here are photographs Rascoe collected during his research.

Belle Starr cover art, in Zane Grey's Western Magazine, January 1950 (New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, 1946-1954), from the Caroline F. Schimmel Fiction Collection of Women in the American Wilderness. Schimmel Fiction 4571.

Belle Starr’s story was sensationalized over the years, first by the National Police Gazette.  Here is just one example of the Belle Starr’s presence in popular culture (looking very modern and sassy) more than sixty years after her death.