"Jennie [or Jenny] June" was the pen name of journalist Jane Cunningham Croly. Croly (or June) was born in England, but emigrated to America when she was 12. In 1854 she set out to become a journalist under her pen-name. In "Thirty Years in Journalism," she writes: "I had tried for a regular position on some one of the New York dailies, but was everywhere laughed at for my answer. 'There was no place for women,' I was assured, on a daily paper. They might do occasional 'outside' work, but they could not be reporters, because they could not go where news had to be gathered, and they could not be editors, because they knew 'nothing of politics.'" Nevertheless she persisted, becoming a true reporter (and covering news of the Civil War!), and subsequently becoming a columnist and the editor of Demorest Magazine. It was for Demorest that she wrote the columns below; these are just a small selection of the body of her work. (Eventually I hope to gather more of this collection.) Though not a campaigner for the vote, Jennie June was an ardent feminist and her words and work helped pave the way for women's progress in the Victorian era.

Talks with Women: The Art of Pleasing (Demorest, 1873)

Talks with Women: Dress at Home and Abroad (Demorest, 1873)

"It is possible to think and act for oneself even upon the subject of dress, and decide for ourselves how far our time and strength should be given to it, and in what way."

Talks with Women: Food Fancies (Demorest, 1873)

Talks with Women: Friendships (Demorest, 1873)

Talks with Women: Going into Society (Demorest, 1873)

Society at its best, says this author, should be an opportunity for a girl to gain education and maturity; at its worst, it can render a girl's future valueless to herself and injurious to others.

Talks with Women: Habits (Demorest, 1873)

Talks with Women: Household Service (Demorest, 1873)

An interesting look at the modern servant, how she behaves and how she is treated - and the observation that with so many new appliances in the home, a lady will soon be able to do without servants altogether!

Making Money (Demorest, 1873)

Talks with Women: Manners (Demorest, 1873)

A lovely piece on the value of manners (vs. simply "etiquette").

Talks with Women: Work (Demorest, 1873)

Tips on finding useful and suitable employment.

Talks with Women: Our House (Demorest, 1874)

Talks with Women: Our House - The Store-Room (Demorest, 1874)

On putting up household supplies for the winter.

Talks with Women: The Object of Education for Women (Demorest, 1874)

Talks with Girls: Higher Education (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Knowing and Doing (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Discontent (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: As Others See Us (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: What to Do About It (Demorest, 1879)

"It" is basically one's future - or how to take charge of one's life no matter what is handed to one.

Talks with Girls: Women in Literature (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Real Work (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: A Genius for Doing Things (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Opportunity (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Economy (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Unfledged Genius (Demorest, 1879)

Talks with Girls: Waste of Power (Demorest, 1880)

Primarily concerning the problem of wasting too much time upon social obligations and events.

Talks with Girls: Special Training (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: Rest and Restfulness (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: Human Work (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: The Uses of Leisure (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: The Morality of Home Life (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: What to Do with 1000 Dollars (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: "Society" Girls (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Girls: Sticking to It (Demorest, 1880)

Talks with Women: The Aftermath (Demorest, 1882)

A discussion of the problems of expecting children to do what you say and not what you do.

See also Thirty Years in Journalism, by Jennie June (Demorest, 1886)

More Info: • Jane Cunningham Croly • Journalist Jennie June Was "Having It All" in the 19th Century, by Kristy Puchko