MRHS Lecture: Four Women of Mystic

The Mystic River Historical Society presents a lecture by historian Judy Hicks on four women of Mystic during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Realizing that many historians focus on the men of a community, Hicks began researching the women and wives of the area. Using images from the Society's collection, Hicks gives us a glimpse into Mystic during these women's times. 

In this lecture, Hicks highlights two whaling captains’ wives, Mary Brewster and Mary Rathbun Stark.  Brewster went on whaling voyages with her husband while Stark remained in her West Mystic Avenue home.  Two other women made their mark in Mystic.  Helen May Clarke began a diary at the age of 10 and eventually became a journalist. Mary Jobe Akeley was a well-known explorer of the Canadian Rockies before settling in Mystic and starting Camp Mystic for girls.  She continued the work of her late husband, Carl Akeley, for whom the Museum of Natural History’s African Wing is named.

Hicks is the Historian for the Mystic River Historical Society and is an editor of Images of America: Mystic, and An Account of My Life, 1915-1926: The Childhood Journals of Helen May Clarke of Mystic, CT.  She is also Past-President of the Society.

The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Mystic Congregational Church Parish Hall and is followed by a question and answer period and refreshments.  It is free and open to the public.  For more information, call the Mystic River Historical Society 536-4779, or email info@mystichistory.org.