Aprons Away: Women's Work on Route 66 - by Cheryl Eichar Jett (Paperback)

About the Book

We've all heard of Route 66, but did you ever stop to think of all the women who worked along the 2,448-mile length of the most famous highway in the world? The welcoming smile from an aproned waitress offering to pour you a cup of coffee or the friendly face of the motel owner ready to rent you a room come to mind. But thousands more worked behind the scenes at a variety of jobs, businesses, careers, and artistic endeavors during the first century of Route 66. From Chicago to Los Angeles, in cities and small towns, women pumped gas, held elected offices, painted public art murals, joined the military, reported news, and designed buildings, theme parks, fashion, and toys. Just in time for this year's 100th anniversary of the iconic Mother Road, author Cheryl Eichar Jett examines the myriad roles women played at the crossroads of Route 66 and women's history.

About the Author

Cheryl Eichar Jett is an American author, playwright, and journalist with seven previous books, including Route 66 in Illinois and hundreds of published articles. Known for her Route 66 and travel writing for Arcadia Publishing, Quarto, and ROUTE Magazine, she earned a graduate degree in history from SIUE. For 10 years, Jett has traced the crossroads of women's history with Route 66 and has directed two productions of her stage play based on that research.