This reference book chronicles what American women did from the emergence of the republic through the end of World War I and the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. A broad spectrum of activities are depicted, showing their many accomplishments and how their activities affected the world around them. It was an era of great transition for all women.

A who's who of American women and some men (those who showed great support or, ironically, great opposition to women's reform) are described one year at a time, beginning with 1789 and ending with 1920. Each year's activities are organized into seven possible categories: domesticity, work, education, religion, the arts, the law and politics, and joining forces. The book is thoroughly indexed.