Christine Blackwell

Christine Blackwell, author of Remarkable Women of Oakland County, is a female trailblazer who sought to write a book that would provide role models for today’s young women. Her pathway to authorship began at Lawrence Technological University.  

“I received a full scholarship to Lawrence Tech,” Blackwell said. “I was the only woman in my classes. I studied architecture for three years. Then, I realized I wanted to be a book editor. I graduated with a bachelor’s of science in humanities, with a concentration in English and architecture.” 

Blackwell went on to be an editor at the American Concrete Institute. 

“I was hired almost immediately after graduating and I stayed for two years. It was a good place to work. I segued into popular writing as a layout artist at the Oakland Press. But the only way to make the big time is to go to New York City.” 

Blackwell traveled to New York City and was hired by Harcourt Brace, a large international publisher. 

“I was there for 30 years,” she said. 

Today, Blackwell teaches part-time at Lawrence Tech. It was there that she came up with the idea to write Remarkable Women of Oakland County. 

“I asked the women in my class who their heroes were. Besides their mothers, they didn’t have any,” she said. “I wanted to create interesting role models for the newer generation.” 

Blackwell was surprised to learn how many exceptional women have come out of Oakland County.

“It was actually really hard for me to limit the amount of women to put in the book,” she said. “There are many high-achieving women from Oakland County. I thought it was such a shame that all this history is being lost. So, I decided to write a book. There was Matilda Dodge Wilson, who co-founded Oakland University, and Mary Barra, who became the CEO of General Motors.”

From pioneers to modern day heroines, Blackwell profiled dozens of influential women. 

“I started to create categories and I came out with 12 categories,” she said. “I went as far back as pioneers and reformers. The categories range from scientific areas to authors and artists.”

“More than 70 percent of the women were married with children,” she said. “That amazed me. It has 39 biographies in it. I wanted to include some living role models and I interviewed quite a few of the women.”

Blackwell was inspired by her own role model, Genevieve Dooley. Dooley took part in founding Lawrence Tech and the book is dedicated to her. 

“My parents had grown up in The Great Depression,” she said. “They saved for my brother to go to college, but they weren’t thinking that women should go to college yet.” 

As it happened, Dooley lived in the same apartment complex as Blackwell growing up. She had a lasting impact on Blackwell’s life. 

“She (Dooley) asked why I wasn’t in college,” she said. “She offered to help me if I’d consider going. She was my mentor the whole way. I’ve wanted to honor her publicly for decades.” 

As a Bloomfield Hills resident, Blackwell appreciates the beauty of her surroundings.

“I live not too far from Cranbrook,” she said. “I love Cranbrook. It’s beautiful. And the city, itself, you feel like it’s a state park or something. They’ve kept it natural and beautiful.’

In her retirement, Blackwell hopes to continue writing. 

“I don’t have children of my own and I want to leave something for my family,” she said. “My books will outlast me in my lifetime. So, those will be my children.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent