Kathleen D. McCarthy – författare

Kathleen McCarthy here presents the first book-length treatment of the vital role middle- and upper-class women played in the development of American museums in the century after 1830. By promoting undervalued areas of artistic endeavor, from folk art to the avant-garde, such prominent individuals as Isabella Stewart Gardner, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller were able to launch national feminist reform movements, forge extensive nonprofit marketing systems, and "feminize" new occupations.

In her incisive history, Kathleen D. McCarthy explores the impact of philanthropy - both giving and volunteerism - on America from 1700 to 1865. What results is a vital reevaluation of public life during the pivotal decades leading up to the Civil War. By investigating the relationships among the market revolution, participatory democracy, and voluntary associations, McCarthy reveals how these elements interacted to change our government - and the course of history. She considers how acts of volunteerism and charity became involved with key social interests such as the abolitionist movement, educational patronage, the struggle against racism, and female campaigns for equality. Ultimately, she uncovers the pivotal role of philanthropy in the story of America's continuous attempt to fulfill our founding ideals.