About Cowgirls and Ranch Women: Pioneers Pushing Gender Boundaries
Presented by Lynne McKee, Benton County Fairgrounds Manager
Cowgirls appeared on the American frontier in the
mid-1800's. In an era when women were expected to act ladylike, sew,
serve tea in the parlor, and care for her husband and family, these determined
and spirited female pioneers lived on the fringes of society working stock
alongside the cowboys. Lynne McKee will present stories and images of the
early cowgirls of the American West who worked on ranches, performed in Wild
West shows and competed in rodeos, while discussing their impact on re-defining
gender roles.
About the Speaker:
Lynne McKee received a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Davis and a MA
degree in Museum Studies at San Francisco State University. She has been
involved with archaeological digs throughout California, as well as traveling
to the Middle East to study Egyptology. She has worked for a variety of
museums including the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural
History and Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's historic home in Virginia. She
also worked for eight years as the FBI's Art Theft Program Manager, and was
involved in numerous investigations recovering stolen antiquities.