Beyond Seduction and Abortion: The Life and “Memoir” of Zulma Marache has been a long labor of love and would not have been begun without various forms of support.
I am grateful to Marietta College’s Professional Development Committee for the small research grant that led me to Zulma Marache in 2014, and to the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) for the summer research stipend that empowered my research into Zulma Marache’s life in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Many people lent their aid in the grant application process: Melissa Homestead and Jennifer Putzi wrote letters testifying to the value of my research, while Mark Miller confirmed Marietta College's support for the project. Marietta College’s Grant Officer, Chantal Centofanti-Fields, was instrumental in helping me navigate all things grant-related. The NEH’s Beauty Bragg graciously helped me through the NEH’s system and ensured that my funding arrived in the right place! To all at the NEH—you and your work are crucial, noticed, and appreciated. Keep fighting the good fight.
I want to sing the praises of archivists, librarians, local historians and town clerks who are the unsung heroes of scholarly projects such as this.
The staff at Marietta College’s Legacy Library deserve a symphony rather than a warbling soloist! Thanks goes to Joe Straw, a whiz at finding sources and solving research problems; to Linda Showalter, who helped me prove that Zulma Marache and Napoleon Loreaux were indeed real people; to Peter Thayer, who understands better than most my obsession with Zulma Marache, has listened with interest to my genealogical discoveries, and helped me secure interlibrary loans from institutions across the United States; to Angela Burdiss, for her help with technological challenges and, with Jeanne Catalano, helping me access digital materials from afar. Jeanne, an extra thank for your advocacy, calmness, kindness, and talent for hiring and mentoring top-notch student workers. Most of all, thank you for your cheerful forbearance when I returned my library books late (which was most of the time).
This project has benefited from the expertise of people I’ve met in person, on Zoom, or through email. The New York Genealogy and Biography Society’s Sue Miller introduced me to new-to-me genealogical resources and found Zulma Marache’s marriage record—a source that sparked my interest in her life beyond the “Memoir.” Verna Gilson at the Beardsley Library in Winsted, Connecticut, went above and beyond with genealogical help and historical context. The Beardsley’s Ben Cruson has been a gem to work with as I pop on and off his radar with random emails. Jenny Ambrose at the Adirondack Experience Museum gathered many materials for me to look at and graciously provided digitized scans for this project. Other people who helped in ways big and small: Maryanne Legrow at the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut; Zack Kautzman at the New York Municipal Archives; Liza Katz at the Center for Brooklyn History; and Connie Thatcher at Green-Wood Cemetery. Kelsey Baraxias and Nicole Coil kindly took time to answer my questions about all things French and the law, respectively. Julia Marache and Marjorie Mendelson both responded to my inquiries about the Marache family’s genealogy and helped me gain a better sense of the scope and scale of the families’ movements and achievements...and of how many questions remain unanswered!
A generous community of scholars sharpened my thinking and writing throughout this project. Conversations with Brooke Lansing Mai and Jenny Schollaert encouraged my work, as well as expanded my research approaches and understanding of reproductive justice. Nicholas L. Syrret pointed me toward resources and generously provided feedback on the Life of Zulma Marache Basney section of this project.
Marietta College’s Department of English and Modern Languages nurtured my growth as a scholar and teacher and was a wonderful place to launch my career as well as this project. If the Marietta College Faculty Writing Group ever tired of reading about abortion and Zulma Marache, they did not show it. Thank you to Grace Johnson and Bev Hogue for organizing such a well-rounded group of accountants, political scientists, biologists and historians, each of whom asked probing questions and challenged me to consider audience, audience, audience. Bev, I appreciate your nuanced attention to detail more than you’ll know. Finally, a special shout-out goes to Mike Tager, for his attentive, careful reading and for being an extraordinary colleague.
Storytelling intern Anna Cosner has been a cheerleader, beta reader, and crucially, footnote and consistency checker. Anna, I am thankful that your desire for a writing internship sent you my way! Thank you, too, to Susan Bernardin, Kristina Bross, and Ryan Schneider for inspiring my love of learning and your ongoing encouragement, and to Judy and Bill Ruud for their interest in my work.
I presented portions of this project at the American Literature Association conference in 2016, and at the Society for the Study of American Women Writers (SSAWW) in 2021 and 2025. Melissa Homestead’s encouragement during the 2021 SSAWW gave me the boost I needed to submit an expanded conference paper to Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers, where it received incredible care and attention from editors Jennifer Putzi, Kate Adams, and Susan Tomlinson. Co-presenting on a panel with Mollie Barnes and Jennifer Tuttle at the 2025 SSAWW proved invigorating. Audience questions and feedback help me finally figure out the introduction. Whew!
I had no idea of the learning curve that awaited me when I began this Digital Humanities adventure. I needed a lot of sherpas to help me climb the digital mountain! Initial conversations with Jessica de Spain and Maggie Smith at the Recovery Hub for American Women Writers helped me get a sense of potential scale and platforms for this project; the Recovery Hub also provides great frameworks and support for recovery projects like this one. Carol Schmidt at Essential Web Strategies LLC and Ian Li at Owlstown, have been fabulous and fabulously patient as this project plodded its way to completion.
One of the great joys in researching Beyond Seduction and Abortion has been the literal roads it has taken me down. As I traveled through rural Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York I met some of the kindest people. Thank you to Amanda Seeley and Melonie Luck for going out of your way to meet me and show me town records (Amanda) and the Morehouse Historical Society’s treasures (Melonie). I was blessed with kind and generous Airbnb hosts, especially Ana, a great conversationalist and coffee maker; Christine, who made sure I got home safely; and Puff, who gifted me with an early check-in for my writing retreat and shared toast, coffee, and a dock where dolphins splashed beneath my dangling feet.
Every author has a a force of friends urging her forward with prayers, humor, coffee, Kleenex, and walks (sometimes all at the same time). Stacy Hartman, Jill Larson, Heather Miller, Maribeth Saleem-Tanner, Megan Liller Krivchenia, Mollie Barnes, Stephanie Anckle, Catharine Shuler, Tarez Graban, and Joy A.J. Howard: thanks for the accountability, fellowship, and thoughtful conversation in-person and across the miles. You have walked with me through some of the most challenging and amazing years of my life. I treasure your steadfast hearts and wisdom.
Finally, Mom, Dad, Michael and Matthew, I have been blessed beyond measure.
Michael, joined the angels before Zulma came into our family, but I know you would have loved her, told me to relax when I stressed over all the things, and kept me giggling and caffeinated throughout this process. As it was, the Winnie-the-Pooh mug you gave me years ago has been a constant coffee-filled companion...and so have you. I miss you.
Mom, Dad, and Matthew: Thank you for your love and support, for always having my back, and for welcoming Zulma Marache into our family even when it meant I road-tripped all over New England to bring her into our fold.
I love you all more than whipped cream, chocolate, and coffee combined.
I am grateful to Marietta College’s Professional Development Committee for the small research grant that led me to Zulma Marache in 2014, and to the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) for the summer research stipend that empowered my research into Zulma Marache’s life in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Many people lent their aid in the grant application process: Melissa Homestead and Jennifer Putzi wrote letters testifying to the value of my research, while Mark Miller confirmed Marietta College's support for the project. Marietta College’s Grant Officer, Chantal Centofanti-Fields, was instrumental in helping me navigate all things grant-related. The NEH’s Beauty Bragg graciously helped me through the NEH’s system and ensured that my funding arrived in the right place! To all at the NEH—you and your work are crucial, noticed, and appreciated. Keep fighting the good fight.
I want to sing the praises of archivists, librarians, local historians and town clerks who are the unsung heroes of scholarly projects such as this.
The staff at Marietta College’s Legacy Library deserve a symphony rather than a warbling soloist! Thanks goes to Joe Straw, a whiz at finding sources and solving research problems; to Linda Showalter, who helped me prove that Zulma Marache and Napoleon Loreaux were indeed real people; to Peter Thayer, who understands better than most my obsession with Zulma Marache, has listened with interest to my genealogical discoveries, and helped me secure interlibrary loans from institutions across the United States; to Angela Burdiss, for her help with technological challenges and, with Jeanne Catalano, helping me access digital materials from afar. Jeanne, an extra thank for your advocacy, calmness, kindness, and talent for hiring and mentoring top-notch student workers. Most of all, thank you for your cheerful forbearance when I returned my library books late (which was most of the time).
This project has benefited from the expertise of people I’ve met in person, on Zoom, or through email. The New York Genealogy and Biography Society’s Sue Miller introduced me to new-to-me genealogical resources and found Zulma Marache’s marriage record—a source that sparked my interest in her life beyond the “Memoir.” Verna Gilson at the Beardsley Library in Winsted, Connecticut, went above and beyond with genealogical help and historical context. The Beardsley’s Ben Cruson has been a gem to work with as I pop on and off his radar with random emails. Jenny Ambrose at the Adirondack Experience Museum gathered many materials for me to look at and graciously provided digitized scans for this project. Other people who helped in ways big and small: Maryanne Legrow at the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut; Zack Kautzman at the New York Municipal Archives; Liza Katz at the Center for Brooklyn History; and Connie Thatcher at Green-Wood Cemetery. Kelsey Baraxias and Nicole Coil kindly took time to answer my questions about all things French and the law, respectively. Julia Marache and Marjorie Mendelson both responded to my inquiries about the Marache family’s genealogy and helped me gain a better sense of the scope and scale of the families’ movements and achievements...and of how many questions remain unanswered!
A generous community of scholars sharpened my thinking and writing throughout this project. Conversations with Brooke Lansing Mai and Jenny Schollaert encouraged my work, as well as expanded my research approaches and understanding of reproductive justice. Nicholas L. Syrret pointed me toward resources and generously provided feedback on the Life of Zulma Marache Basney section of this project.
Marietta College’s Department of English and Modern Languages nurtured my growth as a scholar and teacher and was a wonderful place to launch my career as well as this project. If the Marietta College Faculty Writing Group ever tired of reading about abortion and Zulma Marache, they did not show it. Thank you to Grace Johnson and Bev Hogue for organizing such a well-rounded group of accountants, political scientists, biologists and historians, each of whom asked probing questions and challenged me to consider audience, audience, audience. Bev, I appreciate your nuanced attention to detail more than you’ll know. Finally, a special shout-out goes to Mike Tager, for his attentive, careful reading and for being an extraordinary colleague.
Storytelling intern Anna Cosner has been a cheerleader, beta reader, and crucially, footnote and consistency checker. Anna, I am thankful that your desire for a writing internship sent you my way! Thank you, too, to Susan Bernardin, Kristina Bross, and Ryan Schneider for inspiring my love of learning and your ongoing encouragement, and to Judy and Bill Ruud for their interest in my work.
I presented portions of this project at the American Literature Association conference in 2016, and at the Society for the Study of American Women Writers (SSAWW) in 2021 and 2025. Melissa Homestead’s encouragement during the 2021 SSAWW gave me the boost I needed to submit an expanded conference paper to Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers, where it received incredible care and attention from editors Jennifer Putzi, Kate Adams, and Susan Tomlinson. Co-presenting on a panel with Mollie Barnes and Jennifer Tuttle at the 2025 SSAWW proved invigorating. Audience questions and feedback help me finally figure out the introduction. Whew!
I had no idea of the learning curve that awaited me when I began this Digital Humanities adventure. I needed a lot of sherpas to help me climb the digital mountain! Initial conversations with Jessica de Spain and Maggie Smith at the Recovery Hub for American Women Writers helped me get a sense of potential scale and platforms for this project; the Recovery Hub also provides great frameworks and support for recovery projects like this one. Carol Schmidt at Essential Web Strategies LLC and Ian Li at Owlstown, have been fabulous and fabulously patient as this project plodded its way to completion.
One of the great joys in researching Beyond Seduction and Abortion has been the literal roads it has taken me down. As I traveled through rural Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York I met some of the kindest people. Thank you to Amanda Seeley and Melonie Luck for going out of your way to meet me and show me town records (Amanda) and the Morehouse Historical Society’s treasures (Melonie). I was blessed with kind and generous Airbnb hosts, especially Ana, a great conversationalist and coffee maker; Christine, who made sure I got home safely; and Puff, who gifted me with an early check-in for my writing retreat and shared toast, coffee, and a dock where dolphins splashed beneath my dangling feet.
Every author has a a force of friends urging her forward with prayers, humor, coffee, Kleenex, and walks (sometimes all at the same time). Stacy Hartman, Jill Larson, Heather Miller, Maribeth Saleem-Tanner, Megan Liller Krivchenia, Mollie Barnes, Stephanie Anckle, Catharine Shuler, Tarez Graban, and Joy A.J. Howard: thanks for the accountability, fellowship, and thoughtful conversation in-person and across the miles. You have walked with me through some of the most challenging and amazing years of my life. I treasure your steadfast hearts and wisdom.
Finally, Mom, Dad, Michael and Matthew, I have been blessed beyond measure.
Michael, joined the angels before Zulma came into our family, but I know you would have loved her, told me to relax when I stressed over all the things, and kept me giggling and caffeinated throughout this process. As it was, the Winnie-the-Pooh mug you gave me years ago has been a constant coffee-filled companion...and so have you. I miss you.
Mom, Dad, and Matthew: Thank you for your love and support, for always having my back, and for welcoming Zulma Marache into our family even when it meant I road-tripped all over New England to bring her into our fold.
I love you all more than whipped cream, chocolate, and coffee combined.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in Beyond Seduction and Abortion: the Life and "Memoir" of Zulma Marache, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.