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The Downers Grove Park District Museum will recognize March as Women’s History Month with a discussion based on Karen Abbott’s book, “Sin and the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys & the Battle for America’s Soul.”
The selection is the featured read for the third annual Historic Book Club selection with the Park District.
“The book is the true story of two sisters who ran the world’s most famous brothel in Chicago,” Abbott said. “They are haled as part of Women’s History Month because they are some of the first women entrepreneurs.”
Abbott said her book, which came out in 2007, describes the evolution of Minna and Ada Everleigh’s business and how the women started out with nothing and eventually became millionaires growing and developing the brothel.
“The sisters sort of had this grand idea to elevate the industry,” Abbott said. “Prostitution was a necessary evil so why not run it as decently as possible. They were pioneers in that thinking.”
Abbott said her research for the book started when she decided to feed a curiosity regarding her own ancestors. Abbott said her grandmother and great aunt immigrated from Slovenia to America in the early 20th Century. Abbott said her great aunt later went missing after she took a trip to Chicago.
“I wanted to see what was going on in Chicago at that time,” Abbott said.
As she was looking for family history she came across the story of the Everleigh sisters and “forgot about my missing relative.”
“This is a part of American History that has been swept under the rug. It’s part of American fabric during this time,” Abbott said. “Because the sisters were so famous they also became the easiest target. Police, ministers sort of jumped in and started a cultural war against them. The Everleigh sisters held on and fought the good fight.”
Museum Supervisor Christa Christensen said the book was chosen because the Everleigh sisters were interesting business women with a Chicago tie.
“They were some of the first entrepreneurs and it does take place in Chicago so you could say it’s somewhat of a local book,” Christensen said.
Christensen said next week’s discussion is free. Copies of the book can be checked out at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St., or are for sale at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St.
| If you go TIME 7 to 8:30 p.m. DATE March 18 LOCATION The Downers Grove Park District Museum, 831 Maple Ave. |
The Downers Grove Park District Museum will recognize March as Women’s History Month with a discussion based on Karen Abbott’s book, “Sin and the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys & the Battle for America’s Soul.”
The selection is the featured read for the third annual Historic Book Club selection with the Park District.
“The book is the true story of two sisters who ran the world’s most famous brothel in Chicago,” Abbott said. “They are haled as part of Women’s History Month because they are some of the first women entrepreneurs.”
Abbott said her book, which came out in 2007, describes the evolution of Minna and Ada Everleigh’s business and how the women started out with nothing and eventually became millionaires growing and developing the brothel.
“The sisters sort of had this grand idea to elevate the industry,” Abbott said. “Prostitution was a necessary evil so why not run it as decently as possible. They were pioneers in that thinking.”
Abbott said her research for the book started when she decided to feed a curiosity regarding her own ancestors. Abbott said her grandmother and great aunt immigrated from Slovenia to America in the early 20th Century. Abbott said her great aunt later went missing after she took a trip to Chicago.
“I wanted to see what was going on in Chicago at that time,” Abbott said.
As she was looking for family history she came across the story of the Everleigh sisters and “forgot about my missing relative.”
“This is a part of American History that has been swept under the rug. It’s part of American fabric during this time,” Abbott said. “Because the sisters were so famous they also became the easiest target. Police, ministers sort of jumped in and started a cultural war against them. The Everleigh sisters held on and fought the good fight.”
Museum Supervisor Christa Christensen said the book was chosen because the Everleigh sisters were interesting business women with a Chicago tie.
“They were some of the first entrepreneurs and it does take place in Chicago so you could say it’s somewhat of a local book,” Christensen said.
Christensen said next week’s discussion is free. Copies of the book can be checked out at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St., or are for sale at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St.
| If you go TIME 7 to 8:30 p.m. DATE March 18 LOCATION The Downers Grove Park District Museum, 831 Maple Ave. |
