Mary Kenner’s story is one data point in a very large set.

It changes the understanding of what recovery means.

Recovering Mary Kenner’s story is not simply an act of historical justice, important as that is.

It is also an act of reconstruction — of building a more complete and accurate picture of American life that reflects the full range of the people who have contributed to it.

This reconstruction is not yet complete.

There are other Mary Kenners in the historical record, waiting for the researchers and educators and documentary filmmakers who will find them and tell their stories.