“She Wishes to get a Permit to Sit in the Market:” Women, Welfare, and Food Selling in the Early Republic

Carolyn Zola, Research Associate, Library Company of Philadelphia Program in Early American Economy and Society Commenter: Ellen Hartigan-O’Connor, UC Davis Tuesday, October 6, 2026 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM EDT Hybrid <a href="https://18308a.blackbaudhosting.com/18308a/History-of-Women-Gender--Sexuality-Seminar-with-Carolyn-Zola---In-Person-Research">Register to attend in person&nbsp;</a> <a href="https://18308a.blackbaudhosting.com/18308a/History-of-Women-Gender--Sexuality-Seminar-with-Carolyn-Zola---Virtual-Research">Register to attend online</a> This paper examines the survival strategies of impoverished women in New York and Philadelphia during the early republic. Destitute women turned to two institutions for support, the Overseers of the Poor, who disbursed poor relief, and public market administrators. Local authorities allocated places for women to sell foodstuffs in markets, provided these women could prove their “honest sober and industrious” character. While there is a rich literature on both welfare and markets in this period, these stories are usually told separately. Narrating them together reveals the economic, social, and political claims made by these marginal women on local governments. Join the conversation at the <a href="https://www.masshist.org/seminars/history-women-gender-sexuality-seminar">History of Women, Gender, &amp; Sexuality Seminar</a>. Seminars bring together a diverse group of scholars and interested members of the public to workshop a pre-circulated paper. <a href="https://www.masshist.org/research/seminars">Learn more</a>. Purchasing the $40 seminar subscription gives you advance access to the seminar papers of all seven seminar series for the current academic year. Subscribe at <a href="https://www.masshist.org/research/seminars">www.masshist.org/research/seminars</a>. Subscribers for the current year may login to view <a href="https://www.masshist.org/seminars/papers">currently available essays</a>.&nbsp; The in-person reception starts at 4:30 PM and the seminar will begin at 5:00 PM. The virtual seminar begins at 5:00 PM and will be hosted on the video conference platform, Zoom. Registrants will receive a confirmation message with attendance information. By registering you are agreeing to abide by the <a href="https://www.masshist.org/admin/uploads/Visitor_Code_of_Conduct_2024_e1ce7f7c12.pdf">MHS Visitor Code of Conduct</a>.

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“She Wishes to get a Permit to Sit in the Market:” Women, Welfare, and Food Selling in the Early Republic

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