Journal Notes

An Interview with History Muse

I knew Allan Pinkerton had hired a woman detective just as his agency was getting started. I’ve thought about creating a fictional woman detective working for Pinkerton after the Civil War—but it never occurred to me that he’d hired more than one. Chris Enss, with her excellent book, The Pinks: The First Women Detectives, Operatives and Spies with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, shows us the work of ten “Lady Pinks,” women of intelligence and nerve who carried out complicated spy missions for the Union during the Civil War.

Kate Warne was the first. She was a young widow when she walked into Pinkerton’s office in 1856, and asked for a job as a detective. She told him women could often find out things that men could not. Pinkerton was an enthusiastic innovator, willing to defy convention if he thought it would work, and he hired her.

A complicated first case

Two days after she was hired, Kate Warne was on her first case. Large sums of money had disappeared from the care of an elite express company: one locked pouch with $10,000, and another with $40,000. Pinkerton suspected the manager of the company, but the case against him seemed very weak. Still, when the manager left town for a while, the Pinkertons followed him, and noted that he purchased expensive clothes for himself and his wife, stayed at the finest hotels, and invested in racehorses. His actions prompted his arrest. He was taken to a prison in New York.

His wife left town, to visit relatives in Philadelphia. Six Pinkerton agents went to work.

A 19th century Mission: Impossible

Enss spins a suspenseful story of how the Pinkertons worked this case. Kate Warne made friends with the wife, telling her a long story about a husband falsely imprisoned as a forger.  Another Pinkerton agent, tall and remarkably good-looking, charmed her at dinner gatherings. A third agent got himself hired as the husband’s lawyer, with another agent as his courier. After several deftly told twists and turns, the Pinkertons win the case. I couldn’t help but think of the various Mission: Impossible teams.

Author interview

Chris Enss is not only an author, but also a scriptwriter, a comedienne, a wonderful writer about the American West, and a private detective. She graciously agreed to answer some questions I posed:

History Muse: How did you decide to write this book?

Chris: I am fascinated with women in history who excelled in non-traditional roles.  Kate Warne was one of those women.  I was equally intrigued by Pinkerton himself.  He was a pioneer in the industry of private investigation.  The story of women Pinkerton detectives was begging to be told.

History Muse: I think many of us think of detective work and spy work as solitary, but these women were often part of teams that, frankly, reminded me of Mission: Impossible. How often does that happen? And are you considering a screenplay based on any of these chapters?

Chris: What’s interesting about PI work is that every case is different.  There are times working alone has its advantages and just as many instances when working with a team is important.  I’m am amazed at the dedication The Pinks had to stay on the job for so long.  They had to go undercover for several months and they were content with the case being solved.  No one was out for individual glory.

In my PI work I am generally alone.  I’ve not been involved in any team investigations.  I’m sure the Pinkerton National Detective Agency continues to work with teams to get their suspect.

I am happy to report that Alan Kaplan and Alicia Keyes have optioned The Pinks.  I’m not sure if the program will be a cable series or what, but I’m excited to see what they’ll do.

History Muse: The stories in your book are mostly from the Civil War, but the Pinkerton Agency has been, and remains, part of American society to the present day. Did the agency continue to hire women after the Civil War? It was also noteworthy to me that Pinkerton hired at least one person of color and one bi-racial woman during the period covered in your book. Was that something he continued to do?

Chris: The Pinkerton National Detective Agency has always been a progressive operation.  They hired women from all walks of life and color.  Gender or race had no bearing on being hired because all Pinkerton was focused on was solving crimes.  Once Kate Warne introduced the idea of hiring a woman the flood gates were open.  I applaud Pinkerton for taking the chance he did at a time when no one else would have entertained the idea.

History Muse: The women you profile in The Pinks are remarkable women—from the first operative Kate Warne to Mary Edwards Walker, one of the few women to hold a medical degree. Is there one whose work you particularly admire? Do you think the brains and resourcefulness these women showed is rare, or do you think a lot more people (including female people) could do what they did, given the chance?

Chris: Kate’s story is my favorite.  The spunk it took to walk into Pinkerton’s office and announce you are looking for work as a detective is such a bold, admirable act.  She was a versatile agent too.  She could play the part of a [spiritualist] medium or woman in distress very easily.  One of the key ingredients of being a good private investigator is patience.  You have to plan, execute, and wait, wait, wait.  Kate was good at the waiting.  Many people change their minds about the profession because there is so much waiting.  Motion pictures and television make it seem as though the culprit is apprehended in a matter of days, but that’s not usually the case.  Anyone with great patience can excel as a private investigator.

History Muse: What’s next for you? Do you think you’ll be making more use of the extensive Pinkerton archives?

Chris: I have two new books coming out in 2018.  The first is entitled The Principles of Posse Management.  Principles of Posse Management tells the stories of the lawmen and leaders of the Old West who organized citizens in the pursuit of law and order. This collection of tales reveals what Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Buffalo Bill Cody, and other legends of the old west knew about leadership with a clever twist on the classic shoot-em-up, black-hats-vs-white-hats tale.  In the fall the book Killer Bs will be released.  That book is about the B movies made by Republic Pictures.  I am writing a book about Big Nose Kate and about the women who played important roles in building the railroad.

History Muse: I, for one, am really looking forward to reading about Big Nose Kate!

Enter now to win a copy of The Pinks

My last day in Deadwood could not have been more memorable. I spent the afternoon speaking with visitors touring the Brothel Deadwood Museum, dealing Faro between book presentations, and enjoying the stories and laughter that make this town unlike any other in the West.

One of the highlights was riding in the Save Our Tails parade with Deadwood History, Inc. Executive Director Jim Williams, followed by a wonderful group photo with the incredibly generous Rose Speirs, Co-Executive Director of Deadwood History, Inc. A nicer person one could not meet.

Thank you to everyone who attended the presentations, stopped by to visit, and shared your love of Deadwood history. I’m already looking forward to returning in June 2027 with more books to present and for the screening of the film According to Kate.

Spent another memorable day in Deadwood presenting books about Frontier Teachers, the Widows of the Little Bighorn, Wicked Women, and An Open Secret: The Most Notorious Bordellos in Deadwood. Of course, that last title seemed especially fitting as many gathered in the Black Hills this week to commemorate the closing of Deadwood’s bordellos on May 21, 1980.

Today, Jim Williams, director of Deadwood History, Inc., and I rode in the Save Our Tails parade portraying one of Deadwood’s most infamous couples, Dora and Joseph DuFran. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the colorful, complicated history of this remarkable town.

Tomorrow, I’ll spend my final day in Deadwood at the Brothel Deadwood discussing An Open Secret and dealing Faro. It seems only fitting to close out my time in this amazing Old West town surrounded by stories that still linger in every street, saloon, and sandstone building. Deadwood truly drips with history.

The final stop of the Women Who Refuse to Behave book tour has brought me to beautiful Deadwood, South Dakota, and Deadwood never disappoints. It is always a pleasure to work with the generous and welcoming people at Deadwood History, Inc., who do so much to preserve and share the remarkable stories of the American West.

Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight at the Deadwood Library for a presentation about the women physicians of the American West – courageous women who broke rules, challenged conventions, and entered a profession many believed should remain closed to them. In 1851, men at Harvard famously declared medicine was no place for women. Thankfully, many determined women refused to listen.

Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center about the book The Widowed Ones: Beyond the Battle of the Little Bighorn, followed on Friday by presentations on Wicked Women and An Open Secret, both exploring the lives of soiled doves in the American West.

It seems especially fitting to discuss those stories here in Deadwood, as May 21 marks the anniversary of the city’s brothels being officially shut down. History always has a way of lingering in Deadwood’s streets, buildings, and stories.

As always, it’s a good time in Deadwood.

The final day in Oklahoma planning the October events for the Will Rogers Medallion Award program has been filled with inspiration, laughter, and gratitude. One of the greatest joys of this journey is meeting so many kind and warm people including authors, publishers, museum professionals, historians, and storytellers who are dedicated to preserving and celebrating the stories of the American West. Their passion for the written word and Western heritage is truly remarkable.

The guest list for the WRMA events in October continues to grow, and each new addition brings even more excitement for what promises to be a memorable celebration of Western literature, history, and storytelling. There’s something very special about seeing so many creative minds come together to honor the enduring spirit of the West and the legacy of Will Rogers.

It was also a treat to see my book displayed alongside titles written by and about Will Rogers at the gift shop at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Moments like that never lose their magic.

Tomorrow, it’s off to Deadwood to spend time with Rose Spiers, Jim Williams, and the other wonderful historians in the famous Western town. I’ll be giving presentations about the accomplishments of the brave women who helped settle the West and shape frontier history. More to come soon from the Black Hills.

The Oklahoma tour continues – sharing the stories of the remarkable Women of the American West while also working through the exciting details of the October Will Rogers Medallion Award program with the brilliant Laurie Cockerell. WRMA would be lost without her.

This week has been filled with unforgettable conversations and meaningful meetings. I had the privilege of spending time with Linda Clark, granddaughter of one of the legendary cowgirls featured in the book Along Came A Cowgirl, hearing firsthand stories that remind us why preserving Western history matters.

At the University of Tulsa, Professors Bob Pickering and Jill Kreftt joined discussions surrounding the proposed Endowment Chair for education in Will Rogers Western American Literature studies – an inspiring step toward ensuring these stories and traditions continue for generations to come.

We also finalized coverage plans for the “Evening with Will” event scheduled for Friday, October 30, alongside the wonderful teams at KVOO and News On 6.

Today I’m headed to the Pioneer Woman Museum to talk about Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women.

More stories, more history, and more adventures to come.

Over the past two days in Claremore, Oklahoma, I’ve had the privilege of speaking about the stories, history, and literary traditions of the American West. I spoke to the local Rotary Club about the Will Rogers Medallion Award program and its mission to honor excellence in Western literature.

I also had the pleasure of speaking at the Claremore Chamber of Commerce Leading Ladies Luncheon at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, where I shared stories from my books about women of the American West, including Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women.

Judging from the event photos, standing next to average-sized women apparently turns me into Hagrid from Harry Potter. I’m pretty sure people are looking at the pictures and thinking, “That woman could hunt geese with a rake.”

Tomorrow it’s on to Oklahoma City for presentations at the Oklahoma Historical Society, along with meetings with the brilliant Professor Bob Pickering and Professor Jill Kreftt at the University of Tulsa as we continue solidifying graduate degrees for the first-ever Will Rogers Western Literature Studies program.

So many places still to visit, so many stories waiting to be uncovered, and so many remarkable women of the West whose lives deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

The Women Who Refuse to Behave Tour is officially rolling across the West — and what a ride it’s been already!

First stop: the incredible U.S. Marshals Museum where I signed copies of Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him and Sam Sixkiller: Cherokee Frontier Lawman. I also had the pleasure of spending time with some truly amazing Western authors during the fundraising event benefiting the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund — a meaningful evening supporting the families of America’s law officers.

Then it was on to the fascinating Gangsters of America Museum in Hot Springs where I talked with a local news station about Ma Barker: America’s Most Wanted Mother. Because apparently one perfectly reasonable way to spend Mother’s Day weekend is discussing the mother who helped her boys land spots on the Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list.

Of course, no trip through Hot Springs would be complete without a stay at the legendary Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa — once a favorite getaway spot of Al Capone himself.

Now it’s onward to Oklahoma with the amazing Laurie Cockerell for more book presentations, more stories of daring women and legendary lawmen, and planning for this year’s Will Rogers Medallion Awards.

The road trip continues — fueled by history, storytelling, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting.

The road tour starts May 9 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. at the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, a place where the history of frontier justice still lingers in the walls. I’ll be signing copies of Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him. Bill Tilghman’s legacy is deeply tied to Fort Smith, once a gateway to Indian Territory and a stronghold of federal law enforcement during the most turbulent years of the West.

I’ll also be signing Sam Sixkiller: Cherokee Frontier Lawman. Sam Sixkiller helped bring order to the so-called last frontier, working alongside men like Tilghman to establish law where it was often in short supply.

From there, it’s on to the Gangster Museum of America in Hot Springs for a 1 P.M. event on May 10, where I’ll be presenting Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne, along with a discussion of Ma Barker: America’s Most Wanted Mother. From frontier lawmen to Prohibition-era outlaws—the stories don’t get any quieter.

Next stop: Claremore and Tulsa. I’ll be presenting Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum on May 13, and then at the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca, Oklahoma, on May 16.

Then it’s north to Deadwood beginning May 19, with presentations running May 20–24 at various locations. I’ll be speaking on:

• The Widowed Ones: Beyond the Battle of the Little Bighorn
• The Doctor Was a Woman: The First Female Physicians on the Frontier
• Frontier Teachers: Stories of Heroic Women of the Old West
• Wicked Women: Notorious, Mischievous, and Wayward Ladies from the Old West
• An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos

If you’re anywhere along the route, I’d love to see you.

Visit www.chrisenss.com or deadwoodhistory.com for full event details—and head to www.chrisenss.com now to enter to win a copy of An Open Secret.

Different towns. Different stories. Same women who refused to behave.