The Old Trails Museum offers its free 2025 Summer History Highlight at 5 p.m., this Friday, July 18, in the La Posada Hotel Ballroom, located at 303 E. Second St. Author Jan Cleere will discuss her latest book, 100 Western Women: The Bold, Brave, Gutsy Women of Arizona’s Past, a compilation of her “Western Women” articles published in Tucson’s Arizona Daily Star. Her talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing.
History books record scant contributions by women, yet they were an integral part of developing the new territory of Arizona. Warriors, basket weavers, ranchers, artists, innkeepers, schoolteachers, politicians and entrepreneurs from a remarkable variety of backgrounds and cultures influenced the growth of Arizona, an amazing and diverse state unlike any other in the nation. These women lived in every part of the territory and some have never had their stories told before now.
Meet Emma Lee French, who came to Winslow in 1887 and established a restaurant before taking on the role of midwife for expectant mothers of railroad workers; Ida Redbird, a Maricopa potter who helped regenerate interest in forgotten Native pottery; Maria Urquides, who was instrumental in obtaining bilingual/bicultural education in schools all across the country; Bessie Kidd Best, who started her teaching career in Winslow before becoming Coconino County School Superintendent; and cattle-and-horse rustler Cecil Cresswell, who ran havoc over the Winslow area for 30 years.
Cleere has been researching and writing about early Western women for over 25 years. Her work, including over a half-dozen books, has earned her accolades from the writing industry including the Will Rogers Medallion awards, New Mexico/Arizona Book awards, Women Writing the West WILLA awards, Military Writers Society of America, National Federation of Press Women, Feathered Quill and Arizona Authors Association. She is featured in several anthologies and her freelance work appears in national and regional publications.
For the latest updates on all of the Old Trails Museum’s exhibits and programs, go to the OTM Website or Facebook page.
The Old Trails Museum is owned and operated by the Winslow Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The museum receives, preserves, and interprets information and artifacts representing the history and cultures of the Winslow area, in order to engage and enlighten all visitors to the museum’s exhibits and programs. Located at 212 N. Kinsley Ave., in the heart of Winslow’s historic business district and across from the Standin’ on the Corner Park, the Old Trails Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free and photography, group tours and research appointments are welcome. There is free parking downtown and the museum’s exhibits are wheelchair accessible.
