Criminals & Notorious Women
Women criminals - infamous and famous women suspected or convicted of crime through history. Includes Lizzie Bordon, Mary Surratt and others.
Lizzie Borden
A biography of Lizzie Borden, accused (and acquitted) murderer of her father and stepmother.
A biography of Lizzie Borden, accused (and acquitted) murderer of her father and stepmother.
Elena Ceausescu
A summary of the biography of Elena Ceausescu, an influence on her husband, the dictator of Romania until their execution in 1989.
A summary of the biography of Elena Ceausescu, an influence on her husband, the dictator of Romania until their execution in 1989.
Emma Goldman
This biographical sketch of Emma Goldman, anarchist and socialist, details her harassment by the law and her conviction in 1893 for inciting to riot.
This biographical sketch of Emma Goldman, anarchist and socialist, details her harassment by the law and her conviction in 1893 for inciting to riot.
Marozia
Trained by her mother Theodora to be a major player in papal politics, she was allegedly the mistress of one Pope, mother of another and grandmother of yet another.
Trained by her mother Theodora to be a major player in papal politics, she was allegedly the mistress of one Pope, mother of another and grandmother of yet another.
Aimee Semple McPherson
An evangelical missionary preacher, with America and its sinners as her mission field -- when she disappeared in 1926, was she really hiding away in a "love nest" with a man on her radio station's staff, or was she kidnapped? Was she a hypocrite or was she a victim of the media and of those who couldn't stand a woman with such power in a position normally closed to women?
An evangelical missionary preacher, with America and its sinners as her mission field -- when she disappeared in 1926, was she really hiding away in a "love nest" with a man on her radio station's staff, or was she kidnapped? Was she a hypocrite or was she a victim of the media and of those who couldn't stand a woman with such power in a position normally closed to women?
Salome
In the New Testament she's famous for asking for the head of St. John the Baptist -- and she's also been a favorite subject for artists, her depiction reflecting the fantasies of each time. Find a brief biography of Salome with notes about many of the depictions in art -- with links.
In the New Testament she's famous for asking for the head of St. John the Baptist -- and she's also been a favorite subject for artists, her depiction reflecting the fantasies of each time. Find a brief biography of Salome with notes about many of the depictions in art -- with links.
Iva Ikuko Toguri d'Aquino - Convicted as Tokyo Rose
Convicted of treason for propaganda broadcasts during World War II (only the 7th American ever convicted of treason), she was later pardoned amidst a public campaign to exonerate her. POWs working with her in Japan during the war tell the story of her subtle undermining of the Japanese efforts.
Convicted of treason for propaganda broadcasts during World War II (only the 7th American ever convicted of treason), she was later pardoned amidst a public campaign to exonerate her. POWs working with her in Japan during the war tell the story of her subtle undermining of the Japanese efforts.
Are Women Really the Fairer Sex? Corruption and Women
This page links to a World Bank Policy Research Report on Gender, showing that where women are more represented in parliaments worldwide, corruption is lower.
This page links to a World Bank Policy Research Report on Gender, showing that where women are more represented in parliaments worldwide, corruption is lower.
Ma Barker: Crime Family Values
A brief sketch of Kate "Ma" Barker from Biography.com, advertising a video presentation on the legend of this woman, asking whether she was really the dangerous mastermind, or simply a devoted mother who tolerated her sons' life of crime.
A brief sketch of Kate "Ma" Barker from Biography.com, advertising a video presentation on the legend of this woman, asking whether she was really the dangerous mastermind, or simply a devoted mother who tolerated her sons' life of crime.
Erzebet Batthory: The Blood Countess
A Transylvanian with a reputation for torture and bathing in the blood of her victims, she was tried in 1611, found guilty and imprisoned.
A Transylvanian with a reputation for torture and bathing in the blood of her victims, she was tried in 1611, found guilty and imprisoned.
Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII of England divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. A few short years later, she was convicted of adultery. Adultery, because Anne was married to the King of England, was also treason. She was beheaded on May 19, 1536.
Henry VIII of England divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. A few short years later, she was convicted of adultery. Adultery, because Anne was married to the King of England, was also treason. She was beheaded on May 19, 1536.
Catherine Howard
Fifth of Henry VIII's six wives, Catherine Howard was a first cousin of the most notorious of Henry's wives, Anne Boleyn. Catherine, too, met a bad end: at about 22 years old, she was executed for being unfaithful. This biography is fairly sympathetic to Catherine's situation.
Fifth of Henry VIII's six wives, Catherine Howard was a first cousin of the most notorious of Henry's wives, Anne Boleyn. Catherine, too, met a bad end: at about 22 years old, she was executed for being unfaithful. This biography is fairly sympathetic to Catherine's situation.
Jezebel
Her name has become synonymous with a shameless, disobedient woman or seductress. A biblical character, she was married to King Ahab and gained her reputation for, among other sins, remaining loyal to her pagan gods. (Her name includes the name of the god Baal.)
Her name has become synonymous with a shameless, disobedient woman or seductress. A biblical character, she was married to King Ahab and gained her reputation for, among other sins, remaining loyal to her pagan gods. (Her name includes the name of the god Baal.)
Bad Dirt - Grace Metalious
She made her town infamous with her 1956 novel, Peyton Place -- and her neighbors, who knew her life, tell stories on her, as well. She lived hard and died early -- of cirrhosis at 39 years old.
She made her town infamous with her 1956 novel, Peyton Place -- and her neighbors, who knew her life, tell stories on her, as well. She lived hard and died early -- of cirrhosis at 39 years old.
Mary Surratt
The first woman in America to be accused of complicity in the assassination of a US President and the first woman to be hanged by the United States government (July 7, 1865), Mary Surratt was convicted along with other suspected conspirators of John Wilkes Booth. Today, many believe her innocent of complicity in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The first woman in America to be accused of complicity in the assassination of a US President and the first woman to be hanged by the United States government (July 7, 1865), Mary Surratt was convicted along with other suspected conspirators of John Wilkes Booth. Today, many believe her innocent of complicity in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
La Malinche - Harlot or Heroine?
Doņa Marina, La Malinche, was an Aztec slave of the Spaniards under Cortes. Of noble origins, she served as interpreter for Cortes, and has been reviled since as a traitor to her people. This article credits her as a heroine, instead, helping "save Mexico from its brutal, blood-thirsty rulers."
Doņa Marina, La Malinche, was an Aztec slave of the Spaniards under Cortes. Of noble origins, she served as interpreter for Cortes, and has been reviled since as a traitor to her people. This article credits her as a heroine, instead, helping "save Mexico from its brutal, blood-thirsty rulers."
Mary Surratt
The Surratt House Museum site includes a history of Mary Surratt. Check the rest of the site for more on John Wilkes Booth and other accused and convicted co-conspirators, plus the latest information on exhoneration research. The house is open for tours; info on the site.
The Surratt House Museum site includes a history of Mary Surratt. Check the rest of the site for more on John Wilkes Booth and other accused and convicted co-conspirators, plus the latest information on exhoneration research. The house is open for tours; info on the site.