The Irish Bridget : Irish Immigrant Women in Domestic Service in America, 1840-1930

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lynch-Brennan, Margaret

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Household employees--United States--History--19th century.

Household employees.

Household employees--United States--History--20th century.

Immigrants--United States--History--19th century.

Immigrants.

Immigrants--United States--History--20th century.

Irish American women--United States--History--19th century.

Irish American women.

Irish American women--United States--History--20th century.

Other Title:

Irish Bridget

Irish Studies

Place of Publication:

Syracuse University Press

Summary:

"Bridget" was the Irish immigrant servant girl who worked in American homes from the second half of the nineteenth century into the early years of the twentieth. She is widely known as a pop culture cliché: the young girl who wreaked havoc in middle-class American homes. Now, in the first book-length treatment of the topic, Margaret Lynch-Brennan tells the real story of such Irish domestic servants, providing a richly detailed portrait of their lives and experiences. Drawing on personal correspondence and other primary sources, Lynch-Brennan gives voice to these young Irish women and celebrates their untold contribution to the ethnic history of the United States. In addition, recognizing the interest of scholars in contemporary domestic service, she devotes one chapter to comparing "Bridget's" experience to that of other ethnic women over time in domestic service in America.

Contents:

Home life in Ireland

From Ireland

To America

The world of the American mistress

The work world of the Irish Bridget

The social world of the Irish Bridget

Was Bridget's experience unique?

ISBN:

9780815652670

0815652674