About the Book

Adelaide M. Branch (1873–1948) was a Progressive Era teacher, saleswoman, writer, and reformer who lived under multiple identities. After an adultery scandal in late 1913, she emerged the following year in New York City as Mary Douglas— working independently as an author, typist, and researcher for leading academics and reformers of her day.

This biography reconstructs her remarkable life through archival evidence, genealogical research, and historical context, revealing how she navigated the constraints of early 20th-century America while pursuing intellectual and social freedom.

Early Praise from Scholars

"Tom Rue... is a dogged researcher who has managed to put together more information on Melvin H. Couch and Adelaide Branch — the key characters in Monticello’s hidden woman saga— than anyone ever has... Rue now thinks he has an idea, and has discovered a mortgage document signed by Miss Branch while she was there [in Bermuda with Upton Sinclair and Mary Craig Sinclair] — attested to by an official—shedding new light on a most fascinating tale."

— John Conway, Sullivan County Historian, Sullivan County Democrat, July 25, 2008.

 Read the full article here.

Publication Timeline

Current Status: Manuscript complete, seeking publication path

Estimated Publication: Spring 2027 (dependent on advance sales and publication path)

Page Count: Approximately 320 pages with illustrations

Features:

• 8 pages of photographs and documents
• Comprehensive bibliography
• Detailed timeline
• Index
• Genealogical appendices

Why Your Advance Purchase Matters 

Independent publishing requires significant upfront investment. Your advance purchase will:

• Fund initial printing costs
• Cover professional indexing and design
• Enable broader distribution through regional and specialty booksellers
• Allow for enhanced digital formatting
• Support archival research costs for future projects

Even if we secure a traditional publishing deal, your advance purchase will be converted to a royalty advance, ensuring you still receive your promised copy and recognition.

👤 About the Author

Tom Rue brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to The Hidden Woman, combining four decades of experience in mental health counseling with deep expertise in historical and genealogical research. Holding a B.A. in Psychology (cum laude, Trenton State College, 1983) and an M.A. in Counseling (Rider College, 1985), he approaches biography and genealogy not as detached scholarship -- and in this case, not as a relative of the subject -- but as a trauma-informed use of genealogical methods to construct a scholarly biography of a little-known historical figure whose life and accomplishments are worth remembering.

His professional background providing counseling to victims of trauma informs the author's sensitivity to Adelaide Branch’s story—particularly the treatment she received as a woman in New York's civil courts, institutional psychiatry of her day, and the social pressures of the Progressive Era's reform movements for women's and workers' rights. This perspective allows Rue to contextualize Branch’s life choices not as aberrations, but as strategies of survival within a patriarchal society that offered women few paths to autonomy.

Historical & Archival Credentials

• Lodge Historian, Monticello Lodge #532, F&AM, Sullivan County, New York (1996–)
• Author, Monticello, Arcadia Publications, ‘Images of America’ series (2010)  (Buy from the author.)
• Municipal Historian (retired), Village of Monticello, New York (2009–2021)
• Senior Vault Clerk, New Jersey State Library, Bureau of Archives and History (1983–1985)
• Registered Genealogist (retired), National Board for Certification of Genealogists (1983)
• President/Incorporator, Society for Historical Education, Inc. (NJ non-profit, founded 1982)
• Genealogy Instructor, Sons of the American Revolution, Elizabeth, NJ (1982)
• Undergraduate Major, Family and Local History Studies, Brigham Young University (1976–1980)

Rue's work demonstrates how genealogical discipline can restore agency to historically marginalized subjects without resorting to narrative inflation or fictionalizing—a model for intellectual biography rooted in both empathy and evidentiary rigor.

Media and Speaking Inquiries

Advance copies are available to qualified reviewers, podcasts, and media outlets. 

Download Media Kit [Under construction.]

Email hiddenwomanbooks@gmail.com for review copy requests, or if high-resolution graphics are needed for publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I pre-order and the book gets picked up by a publisher?

Your order will be converted to a royalty advance. You'll still receive your copy, and your name will appear in the acknowledgments. The publisher will handle future distribution.

When will I receive my book?

Orders placed before September 30, 2026 will ship within 4-6 weeks of publication (expected Spring 2027). Orders placed after that date will ship within 2 weeks of publication.

Can I get a signed copy if I live outside the US?

Yes! We can arrange international shipping. Please contact us at hiddenwomanbooks@gmail.com for international rates.

Is there a discount for multiple copies?

Yes! For orders of 5+ copies, please contact us for bulk pricing. Perfect for book clubs, historical societies, museums, classrooms, and academic courses.

📖 PRE-ORDER NOW (PDF)