What reviewers wrote:

Mrs. Russell Sage
Women’s Activism and Philanthropy in Gilded Age and Progressive Era America
Ruth Crocker

 “A model biography. Mixing empathy with historical acumen, Ruth Crocker has uncovered the life of a woman . . . who advanced educated womanhood and the economic and political rights of women . . . .” —Eileen Boris, Hull Professor of Women’s Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

“Stunning.  .   .   .  A major accomplishment. The story that Crocker tells is one of women fully in charge of their own destinies, and determined to create a world that would be responsive to the needs of women. This is a story of strength and intentionality, and it is exceptionally well-told.” —Stanley N. Katz, Director, Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University

“At a time when searching questions are being asked about the use of private wealth in the provision of public services this biography raises some important considerations. It is . . .  a fascinating case study on the elusive subject of philanthropic motivation. . .  Its continuous theme is that ‘spending is a form of speaking.’ Yet it presents the double edged sword that when philanthropists are also activists their own beliefs and prejudices may be at work.”  -- Helen Bowcock, in Philanthropy UK

“In this age of towering figures like Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, it is illuminating to examine the life of a woman who, a century ago, became one of the most noted philanthropists of her day. . . . Ruth Crocker’s sensitive, richly documented, and beautifully written biography brings Sage and her times alive, reminding us that there is, indeed, value in visiting the neglected ‘upstairs’ of women’s history.” —Sonya Michel, Professor of History and Director, Nathan and Jeanette Miller Center for Historical Studies, University of Maryland

“Historians, scholars of philanthropy, and biographers will all profit from [this book]. Indeed, [it] reminds us that the life of an individual has the power to singularly elucidate the past.”  — Jennifer de Forest, University of Virginia, Journal of American History

“[An] engaging biography of one of [America’s] most intriguing women. . . .  Mrs. Russell Sage is a wonderful read and a major contribution to the literature on class and gender in American history.” —Nancy A. Hewitt, Rutgers University

“Possibly the best biography of a female philanthropist to date.” – Kathleen D. McCarthy, Enterprise and Society, Center for the Study of Philanthropy, Graduate Center, CUNY