ABSTRACT
This article is an excellent overview of the contribution that women made in early public housing policy and reform. Birch focuses particularly on the courageous efforts of both Edith Elmer Wood and Catherine Bauer. Women played an uncharacteristically large part in the pioneering days of the movement and became outspoken advocates for designing housing units adequate for supporting family life, rather than just providing minimal shelter. Birch outlines the beginnings of the reform, as well as the successful lobbying efforts of these women and the key pieces of legislation that resulted.
