Talk:Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site

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This patriarchal lens needs refocusing. Philipse Manor Hall was built by Frederick Philipse AND Margaret Hardenbroeck, his wife and business partner. Margaret came to New Amsterdam as a young unmarried woman and pursued her own career as a merchant, amassing substantial wealth of her own before marrying Frederick. As a Dutch colony, New Amsterdam allowed woman many rights and privileges, including the ability to sign contracts and appear in court, which were taken away when the British took over the colony. Frederick was riding on Margaret's success and she should be acknowledged as the builder of Philipse Manor Hall.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.57.36.2 (talk • contribs)

You've apparently read Jean Zimmerman's The Women of the House, no? It's a good read, but I wouldn't use it as a reference. Yes, women living under the Dutch system in the Americas did own property and enjoy rights that were unthinkable under the English system that would come later. Yes, Margaret Hardenbroeck was wealthy in her own right. I would stop short of calling her Frederick Philipse's "parter," though. Zimmerman's book starts off with a solid historical grounding but sadly digresses into flowery speculation, turning what should have been an serious academic work into something just shy of a novelization. 161.11.130.249 20:27, 31 October 2006 (UTC)