Women Caught Masquerading
As Men!
Clippings from 1882 - 1955

At the site newspapers.com I pulled about 140 clippings from 1882 through 1955
representing when women were 'caught' masquerading or posing as men
to the the extent the newspapers took notice.
And the reasons varied, and were fairly evenly spread among....
1. to be able to find work
2. same sex romantic desire
3. as a disquise in committing a crime
4. to live a life more freely

and a fifth type where the reason may not be known:
5. those discovered only after death, by the doctor or mortician

1882

1883

1885

1887

1890

1893

1896

1898

the story below is fascinating in that there is no judgement regarding the affair

Side Note: I sent the above clipping to my friend Barrett White, a writer,
thinking he could make a good article out of it, and I think he did.

1900

1901

1902

Above left, women did not get the right to vote until 1920; so in 1902 she was an "illegal voter"

It's only 1902, they ain't seen nuthin' yet...

1903

1906

1910

1911

1912

in Houston!

1914

above left, crime in film plot, "The Black Thirteen"

1915

wish I had clearer images of this one

1916

1917

1918

1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

Above article is too small to read but you can download the full PDF file

1926

1927

this time, posing but not in secret

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1952

1953

1954

1955