Victorian Housewife Rebellion

The conflict between Mary Applegate Armstrong and her husband, David L. Armstrong Sr., is the key theme in this visual journal. Her life story was like many women of this era who were “head and shoulders” above their husband intellectually, spiritually, and morally but had to tolerate a subservient role that focused on childbearing and raising of their family. Mary was a rare woman that rebelled against a toxic marriage, left her house, and excelled living on her own terms in her own home with her children. She rejected her husband’s hatred of educated professionals that did not follow the Irish family vocations of farming or horsemanship. Mary inspired and encouraged her eight children’s personal and professional success. Mary Armstrong’s remarkable life story is presented through a series of journal entries based on newspaper articles and family stories with many photos. All sides of her family’s story are featured in the book with family successes and celebrations mixed in with tales of alcohol abuse, illness, crimes, accidents, and even a lobotomy. Issues of the early twentieth century such as Prohibition, women’s rights, immigrants, religion, and education are also featured.