This reference features over 700 essays on American women from the seventeenth through the early twenty-first centuries. Many individuals included in this set have never been covered in any Great Lives series before. Many of them are notable for their work in such fields as politics, civil rights, literature, education, journalism, science, business, and sports. Each essay is approximately three to four pages in length and displays ready-reference top matter, which offers easy access to biographical information, including the woman's name, occupation, area of achievement, and dates of birth and/or death. Also included is a brief synopsis explaining the individual's historical or social importance.