ABSTRACT
Barbara Egger Lennon's (Barbe’s) journey toward greater autonomy took place during the sweeping changes that characterized the early-twentieth-century Progressive Era. Women, in particular, unleashed their potential and power to alter the status quo. The New Woman, as she had been dubbed by the early twentieth century, defies easy definition, but one description does ring true: she was independent minded. Becoming a New Woman required embracing the challenges of change, which was not always an easy choice to make. To make the failure even more frustrating, Barbe also had to contend with a loss of pay for every school day missed lobbying for the vote because Bloomington teachers had no paid personal or vacation days. Barbe also attended Democratic and Progressive Party meetings and stump speeches, but defying her usual family allegiance she declared her support for the Bull Moose Party. The Lennons clearly thought of Barbe as family, so she likely had no real reason to worry about permanent eviction.
