Here are some of the things that people tell me when I ask them about Gerda Lerner: shewas “combative”; “unpleasant”; “I have nothing but negative memories”; “what I love abouther is tied up with what I don’t like, isn’t that interesting?”They also say:“She did important foundational work.”“She was brilliant.”“She paid the price for coming first.”Here is what she said about herself: “I was a laughingstock because I insisted that womenhad a history. They all said, ‘You have a brilliant academic career ahead of you—abandonthis outlandish idea.’” She refused.An official statement: “Dr. Gerda Lerner, who established and served as founding director ofthe Sarah Lawrence College graduate program in women’s history—the first graduate program of its kind— died at the age of 92 on January 2, 2013.”Here are some unofficial stories behind this official story.