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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90 Paperback - 1987

by Anne M. Butler

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Reader reviews for Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

From the publisher

They were called "frail sisters," "fallen angels," "filles de Joie, " "soiled doves," "queens of the night," and "whores." They worked the seamy brothels, saloons, cribs, streets, and "hog ranches" of the American frontier. They were the prostitutes of the post-Civil War West.

Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery details the destitute lives of these nearly anonymous women. Anne Butler reveals who they were, how they lived and worked, and why they became an essential element in the development of the West's emerging institutions. Her story bears little resemblance to the popular depictions of prostitutes in film and fiction. Far removed from the glittering lives of dancehall girls, these women lived at the boarders of society and the brink of despair.

Poor and uneducated, they faced a world where scarce jobs, paltry wages, and inflated prices made prostitution a likely if bitter choice of employment. At best their daily lives were characterized by fierce economic competition and at worst by fatal violence in the hands of customers, coworkers, or themselves. They were scorned and attacked by the legal, military, church, and press establishments; nevertheless, as Butler shows, these same institutions also used prostitutes as a means for maintaining their authority and as a lure for economic development.

Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery is based on an enormous amount of research in more than twenty repositories in Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Kansas. Using census lists, police dockets, jail registers, military correspondence, trial testimony, inquests, court martials, newspapers, post return, and cemetery records, Butler illuminates the dark corners of a dark profession and adds much to our knowledge of both western and women's history.

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From the rear cover

""Daughters of Joy will prove to be a gold mine of information, since the author's massive research makes the book a primary source as well as a thoughtful study of soiled doves on the frontier.....Butler has portrayed the stark realities of prostitution in the American West With sensitivity and insight.

Details

  • Title Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
  • Author Anne M. Butler
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Second Edition
  • Pages 232
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of Illinois Press, Urbana
  • Publication date July 1, 1987
  • ISBN 9780252014666 / 0252014669
  • Weight 0.77 lbs (0.35 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.06 x 6.06 x 0.59 in (23.01 x 15.39 x 1.50 cm)
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 19th Century
    • Chronological Period: 1851-1899
    • Cultural Region: Western U.S.
    • Sex & Gender: Feminine
    • Topical:
    • Topical: Women's Interest
  • Category History - U.S.
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 84000195
  • Dewey Decimal Code 306.7

About the author

Anne M. Butler is a member of the history faculty at Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.

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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
Stock photo: cover may vary

Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Butler, Anne M.

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Urbana and Chicago, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1987. First PB Edition. 5th or later Printing. Trade Paperback. Fine/Wraps. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Later printing. Trade PB in photo wraps. Fine. xii, 179pp inc. Bibliographical Notes, Index.
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by Butler, Anne M.

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University of Illinois Press, 1987-07-01. Paperback. Good. 0.5906 9.0945 6.0236. Book shows some shelf & handling wear, including minor edge wear and cover scuffing. Pages are slightly worn. Interiors are intact with unmarked text/pictures. Good reading copy.
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Anne M. Butler

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Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1987. Reprint Edition . Soft cover. Good/No Jacket. Tradepaper. G/none, used pb, xix-xx, 179pp. Perfect bound, illustrated stiff paper wraps with black colored text on upper and white and black text on spine; edge wear; curled tips; diagonal crease on tail tip of upper; sunned and rubbed. Interior pages clean and unmarked, several of the first pages have creased and curled tail tip. Binding tight.
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Butler, Anne M.

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University of Illinois Press, 1987-07-01. Paperback. Good. 0.5906 9.0945 6.0236. Some markings/ underlining to the pages.\r\n
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Butler, Anne M.

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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery : Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery : Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Anne M. Butler

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University of Illinois Press, 1987. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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by Anne M. Butler

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by Anne M. Butler

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University of Illinois Press, 1987. Paperback. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Butler, Anne M

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University of Illinois Press, 1987-07-01. First Edition. paperback. Used: Good. 9.06x6.06x0.59. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery : Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90
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Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery : Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-90

by Butler, Anne M

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