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ix In 1997 I visited the Yucatecan state archives in Mérida, where I randomly ordered a box of documents from the municipal archives of Valladolid. What I discovered inside inspired this book. The dusty container held no less than forty-eight judicial records of poor people, including many Maya women, who appealed their situations before revolutionary military tribunals . While all of their testimonies were remarkable, what surprised me most was the large number of women who revealed astonishing stories of bravery through long years of hardship. These were not retiring, shy women who asked for help while deferring to the commanders’ authority. Rather, the women boldly addressed the state officials, demanding that the revolutionaries specifically address their needs. Years later, I remain entranced with the women who participated in the Mexican Revolution, and through this book I hope to share my joy in uncovering their many contributions. It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge the intellectual support and assistance that I received during the writing of this book. My greatest debt is to Barbara Weinstein, who has helped me in more ways than I can express. Her scholarship provided a formidable example to follow, while her astute observations guided my research. Barbara served as my Ph.D. thesis adviser at Stony Brook, and she has remained an admirable friend and colleague ever since. Barbara read this book more times than I can remember, and I am grateful for her continued support. Mary Kay Vaughan also provided valuable comments throughout the years. Not only did her smart work influence my own, but she also generously gave her time and ideas. Florencia Mallon’s suggestions on patriarchy and gender were incredibly helpful, as were her overall insights. Terry Rugeley first sparked my interest in Latin America, and I am quite appreciative that he agreed to mentor me in the history of Yucatán. At the Ohio State University, Donna Guy and Ken Andrien carefully read my manuscript, offering constructive counsel not only on the book but also on life in academia. I also want to thank Gene Lebovics, Temma Kaplan, Acknowledgments x n a c k n o w l e d g m e n t s Paul Gootenberg, Brooke Larson, Jocelyn Olcott, Ben Fallaw, Charles Hale, and Gilbert Joseph for their advice and intellectual inspiration. Various funding sources allowed me to complete the research and writing of this book. First of all, a Fulbright–García Robles Fellowship and an American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship granted crucial financial support, without which I could not have carried out this project. The Ohio State University History Department also provided generous financial resources for the book, as did osu’s College of Humanities. While working in Mérida, Yucatán, I was affiliated with the Unidad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, where I met a number of outstanding scholars who offered valuable resources and ideas. Lastly, I am also thankful for the support of the history department at Stony Brook while I was in graduate school. Throughout this project, I have benefited from the encouragement of numerous colleagues, archivists, and friends, both in Mexico and in the United States. In Mérida, Alejandra García Quintanilla from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán generously offered her home to me, inviting me to live with her and her family. I am also immensely grateful for the friendship of Piedad (Susy) Peniche Rivero, director of the Archivo General del Estado de Yucatán in Mérida, who kindly opened the doors to the state archive and shared numerous crucial sources. In addition to their positions at the university and the archives, Alejandra and Susy became wonderful friends and intellectual colleagues with whom I enjoyed many long conversations. At the Yucatecan state archives, Andrea Vergara Medina and Candelaria (Candy) Flota García not only helped me find documents over the years, but they also invited my daughter and me into their homes. I also thank the staffs of the Centro de Apoyo a la Investigación Histórica de Yucatán, including Jorge Canto, who is now director; the Hemeroteca del Estado José María Pino Suárez; the Archivo Histórico de la Arquidiócesis de Yucatán; and the Archivo Registro Civil del Estado de Yucatán. In the United States, Leslie Alexander has been a true companion, and I have thoroughly enjoyed our long conversations on a number of scholarly issues and decidedly nonacademic...

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