Community Building and Early Public Relations

From the start, women were central to a century of westward migration in the U.S. Community Building and Early Public Relations: Pioneer Women¿s Role on and after the Oregon Trail offers a path forward in broadening PR''s Caucasian/White male-gendered history in the U.S. Undergirded by humanist, communitarian, critical race theory, social constructionist perspectives, and a feminist communicology lens, this book analyzes U.S. pioneer women''s lived experiences, drawing parallels with PR''s most basic functions ¿ relationship-building, networking, community building, boundary spanning, and advocacy.

Using narrative analysis of diaries and reminiscences of women who travelled 2,000+ miles on the Oregon Trail in the mid-to-late 1800s, Pompper uncovers how these women filled roles of Caretaker/Advocate, Community Builder of Meeting Houses and Schools, served a Civilizing Function, offered Agency and Leadership, and provided Emotional Connectio