I really liked the premise of this history. The author researched five objects held in a number of museums and archives. Laura Leibman used the objects to tell the stories of the women who owned them. In all cases there was little or no information on the owner. The author researched the lives of these women as best as she could. She stated that most histories were written about men and the women and their roles were neglected. This history shows how Jewish women of the time lived and how their lives did change. Leibman places those who were poor and usually don't figure in history in the narration. A letter from Hannah Louzada in 1761 asks the synagogue in New York for financial aide. A set of silver beakers created by Myer Myers in 1770-90 is owned by Reyna Moses. Sarah Brandan Moses sits for a miniature ivory portrait in 1815-16. Sarah Ann Hayes Mordecai creates and keeps a " commonplace" book 1823-94. And Jane Isaacs and her family pose for a silhouette portrait in 1845. Each artifact is examined and place in the social history of Jewish people in the United States. There are connections with Jews owning and freeing slaves in the Caribbean and England, the plight of widows and inheritance, marriage as a contract between merchant families and later for love, and the enhanced role of women in synagogue organizations. I found that the author covered so many facets of the Jewish community and the relationships of women's roles. She traced so much information about the ideas and influences in early American society. This was a great book to read for me. ( )