The Harvey Girls: Women Who
Opened the West by Lesley Poling-
Kempes
Fascinating Slice Of History
Interviews, historical research, and photos recreate the Harvey Girl
experience of women who came to the west to work as waitresses, but
many stayed and settled, founding cattle and mining towns.
Personal Review: The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the
West by Lesley Poling-Kempes
From the 1880's to the 1950's, the Harvey Girls went west to work in Fred
Harvey's restaurants along the Santa Fe railway--from Chicago to Los
Angeles.At a time when there were "no ladies west of Dodge City and no
women west of Albuquerque", they came as waitresses, but many stayed
and settled, founding the struggling cattle and mining towns that dotted
the region.Poling-Kempes has created the gold standard for writing and
reporting on women in the west. Aside from 10 years research, archival

studies, photo retrieval, the author contacted in person and by telephone
and correspondence some eighty former employees that once totaled
100,00.This unique, unduplicated history is alive with color and original
narrative. Major reviews by the NY Times, American Heritage, Parade.
Writing in the Washington Post Book World Jonathon Yardley sums it up
"A story that seems to have completely vanished from the national
memory; for giving it new life, Poling-Kempes deserves gratitude and
praise."Poling-Kempes has other titles on this theme:Far From Home--
West By Rail With The Harvey Girls and The Golden Era--West by Rail
With the Harvey Girls. Illustrations for this paper doll history are by
famous fashion illustrator Lynette C. Ross. Books available from Texas
Tech University Press 1-800-832-4042.Her novel, Canyon Of
Remembering and Valley of Shining of Stone-The Story of Abiquiu explore
the rich and at times, mysterious, life of the Southwest.
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