WORLD RECORD WOMEN- Present and Past: PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER

 Recent news has heralded the excitement of sailing woman COLE BRAUER finishing second in a field of sixteen solo (male) sailors in a race to circumnavigate the world's oceans. Click above to read more details if this has somehow missed you. It's a powerful story of defying expectations and overcoming obstacles. Brauer's accomplishments are impressive in any times, even "these days", though it is apparently still somewhat "shocking" to many people that "a woman" could accomplish this, or even attempt it. 

From the report above:

"Aboard her 40-foot racing boat First Light, 29-year-old Cole Brauer just became the first American woman to race nonstop around the world by herself." 

Brauer was following early paths and inspirations of women breaking social "rules", examples provided by many other women in the past who had also seem potential in themselves that others dismissed, actively challenging themselves to do things others found incredible. One difference is that news coverage and shared stories about such groundbreaking women could not reach women globally. 

Calkins Creek, 2024
An Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers

The story of one such woman is revealed in PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Cycle Around the World, written by the talented (and curious) researcher, storyteller, author VIVIAN KIRKFIELD, with fabulous illustrations by Alison Jay.  The subject of this event-focused bio/profile was known as Annie Londonderry, though her actual name was Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, married jewish mother of three who saw a poster with a daring opportunity, and set out to improve her family. 

The central story is that two rich men decided to pose a monetary prize (ten thousand dollars, at a time in which that translates to more than a quarter million modern dollars!). Terms of the challenge were specific, including that it must be bicycle strip around the world (allowing for ocean liner travel), that the woman must earn five thousand dollars during the trip (within the fifteen month limit), as well as restrictions related to accepting donations and other supports. 

Kirkfield incorporates excerpts from Annie's own accounts, directly connectING readers to Annie's personality, intentions (to improve prospects for her family's future) and perseverance. Kirkfield carries readers rapidly through Annie's record-setting narrative journey: learning to ride a bike, recognizing the immeasurable restrictions of biking in layered skirts and a corset on a man's-weight bike, plotting the best route (doubling back to restart after hundreds of miles), being waylaid and robbed, and so much more!

Incidents and anecdotes along the way are each revealing and informative about her clever approaches to meeting each of the strict criteria spelled out in the details of the contract challenge. Her awareness of NELLIE BLY's recent trip around the world offered examples embraced by and expanded by Annie, including selling signed photos along the way, lecturing groups about her travels, and, in fact, adopting the surname LONDONDERRY and displaying that non a sign on her bicycle to be the first female athlete compensated for advertising. 

If you've figured by now that Annie succeeded, you'd be right, but that fact barely scratches the surface of what I learned about her through this entertaining picture book, in the main narrative, through extended back matter, and by examining these stylized but remarkable illustrations. The story demands an initial read-through, but invites repeated readings during which the detail-rich illustrations reveal countless background facts about that time period and the various aspects of society around the globe. insights about standards of dress, style, occupations, attitudes, transportation, response to gender challenges, and so much more. I found it especially exciting that Kirkfield did not end the narrative at the end of that challenge journey, but included ways in which Annie's experienced shaped the remainder of her perusal and professional life.

Current news about sailing success COLE BRAUER has the benefits of digital media and "going viral". In fact, many kinds of advertising and reporting about women who broke new ground were common in the real time of the last century and more as women challenged struggles and successes. Those public records allowed modern day researchers to find reports and archival evidence of the impact each accomplishment had. The wonder, today, is how many author/researchers (many of them women) are making it their mission to find reliable sources, including primary sources, to share inspiring stories about women/girls who recognized difficulties but refused to see gender as a barrier to their horizons. Picture book format offers an ideal platform and intended audiences, reaching and affecting young female AND male perspectives before limitations and stereotypes ossify. In the next few posts I'll offer a few look-backs at examples of some of my favorite examples from recent years.