OHA Book Club – The Madame’s Business: The Remarkable Life and Tragic Death of Malvina Guimaraes by Ann Callaghan Allen

There is probably no prominent figure in the history of Oswego, NY more misunderstood than Malvina Guimaraes. She opened the South American market to the sewing machine, which was the technological wonder of its time. A bold successful business entrepreneur, Guimaraes made her fortune as an independent businesswoman at a time when women rarely ventured beyond their homes.

Oswego native Ann Callaghan Allen is a retired professor from the Department of Communication and Film Studies at LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY.