About
Women writers have been overlooked in the literary canon for centuries
Missing Pages is designed to help change that.
Missing Pages is a database documenting under-researched American women writers from the 17th-20th Centuries.
Countless women writers throughout history have disappeared into relative obscurity thanks to lingering sexism in the canon, and bringing them back into educational spaces is essential to creating rich, diverse curricula for students. Missing Pages is dedicated to the preservation of these women's voices and their further integration into the American literary canon & curricula nationwide.
On this site, you will find over 70 writers, organized by time period, genre, & historically marginalized group. Each writer’s profile is located under their respective ‘Writers by Time Period’ tab, and contains a brief biography, a list of topics they write about in their works, and links to where you can find their work.
Welcome to the missing pages of American literary history.
Genevieve Pfister (she/her) - Researcher & Creator
Genevieve, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Library & Information Science, created Missing Pages in 2o21 as a summer research project sponsored by Denison University’s Lisska Center for Scholarly Engagement. She continued to develop the site and, in 2024, delivered a TEDx Talk on the issue of sexism in the American literary canon & the Missing Pages database. You can watch the talk below.
When she’s not building databases, you can find her reading, writing, participating in local theatre shows, or enjoying a nice cup of tea (London Fogs are her favorite).
Professor Kelly Jo Fulkerson-Dikuua (she/her) - Project Advisor & Mentor
Dr. Fulkerson-Dikuua was Genevieve’s project advisor & mentor for this project. Genevieve’s idea for the project began in her Writing 101: Intersectionality class at Denison.
Dr. Fulkerson-Dikuua is an Associate Professor and the Assistant Director of the Institute for Health Equity and Community Justice at Rhodes College. She has also worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Denison University and an Instructional Consultant & Assistant Professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Meet the People Behind 'Pages
Silenced Voices: The Untold Stories of Women Writers Genevieve Pfister | TEDxDenisonU
View site creator Genevieve’s TEDx Talk below
Disclaimers & Content Warnings
These writings are historical in nature, & some may contain instances of racism, homophobia, & other types of prejudice. The creators wholeheartedly denounce such prejudice, & the views & opinions of these writers do not reflect those of this site’s creators.
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Please also note that some of these writers’ works discuss sensitive & serious topics, including but not limited to racism & racial violence, homophobia, sexism, sexual harassment & assault, abuse (including physical abuse), mental illness, suicide, & complex familial relationships.
Please take care of yourself while exploring this site, & feel free to skip over any content you do not feel safe engaging with.
Under each writer’s profile, you will find links to where you can find their work, both through free resources (when available) and through stores. Some of the links to stores are affiliate links, and I, at no additional cost to you, may receive a small percentage of profits from any purchases made through them.