The Women of Southwest Minnesota and the Great War

The short-term and intermediate targets were achieved.

In the application, the short-term goal was to "gather available resources on women's activities in southwest Minnesota during WW1." This would be measured by conducting research on regional newspapers, secondary sources, and visits to regional and state archives.

All of the planned research was conducted. Dr. Talsma Gaul visited all the archival sites noted in the application, with the exception of the Lyon County Historical Society. This was not done because after visiting with the museum staff, it was determined that the Society's archives contained no information on WW1, so the visit was deemed unnecessary. Dr. Talsma Gaul also conducted all of the planned newspaper and secondary source research indicated in the application.

The intermediate goal noted in the application was: "Use resources and information gathered to begin writing an historical essay on local women's activities and contributions during WW1." The indication of progress on this goal was the writing of three draft chapters of the essay. Dr. Talsma Gaul also completed this part of the project.

The long-term goal listed in the application is to publish an historical essay titled "The Women of Southwest Minnesota and the Great War" as part of the Society for the Study of Local and Regional History's Rural and Regional Essay Series. We will now apply for a Publication Legacy grant to complete the final step of this project.

Our short-term and intermediate goals were met because Dr. Talsma Gaul worked diligently and efficiently to complete the work on time and did so in fewer hours than estimated in the original work plan.