“Don’t Forget the Girl You Left Behind in Scranton,” a line from an early 19^th century railroad advertisement uncovered in the research of Josephine M. Dunn, Ph.D., professor of art history at The University of Scranton, summarizes the intent of the Third Biennial Conference on Women and History in Northeast Pennsylvania: don’t forget the contributions made by the women of NEPA.

According to Dr. Dunn, the conference organizer and one of this year’s presenters, the forum serves to highlight current research on the historical contributions women in the region have made in areas such as politics, art, literature and health.

The conference, held March 5 in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall, featured a series of 20-minute presentations made by historians throughout the day. Topics included “Suffrage in Wilkes-Barre,” presented by Susan Gilroy-King, adjunct faculty member at Luzerne County Community College; “The Visiting Nurse Association of Scranton,” by Marian Farrell, Ph.D., professor of nursing at The University of Scranton; “Lady Poets of The Century Club of Scranton,” by Gemma Williams, a 2009 graduate of the University; “Art in Early 20^th-Century Scranton,” by Dr. Dunn; and many others.

This year’s conference also coincided with a special exhibition of Honesdale native Jennie Brownscombe’s work at The Hope Horn Gallery. Called “a kind of Norman Rockwell of her era” by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Brownscombe’s paintings and illustrations are famous for their depictions of the Revolutionary War and Colonial America.

According to Sally Talaga, director of the Wayne County Historical Society who also spoke at the conference, Brownscombe maintained a close connection with the area despite her extensive travels.

“Yes, Jennie went away to New York. Yes, she went to Europe. But she was constantly connecting and reconnecting to her hometown,” Talaga said.

Brownscombe’s correspondence with local newspapers and churches is just one example of influential women finding roots and maintaining strong connections with the region.

The conference’s keynote address, delivered by Linda Shopes, associate fellow in history at Dickinson College and faculty member at the Oral History Institute at Columbia University, illustrated the significance of new and exciting information being collected about the history of women in Northeast Pennsylvania and their influence on American society.

Shopes said that this information is “not just adding facts,” but is “shifting the focus” to include the role women played in shaping our nation’s history.

The next Conference on Women and History in Northeastern Pennsylvania will take place in March 2013 and will feature an even broader collection of information about women in the region.