Biographical Sketches of the Lives and Public Ministry of Various Holy Women was written by Zechariah Taft and published in 1825–1828 in two volumes.

[1] The books full title was Biographical sketches of the lives and public ministry of various holy women: whose eminent usefulness and successful labours in the church of Christ have entitled them to be enrolled among the great benefactors of mankind: in which are included several letters from the Rev.

Taft says that his aim is to record these women's contributions as he sees them as martyrs to changing ideas.

In 1803 the annual Methodist Conference in Manchester had ruled that: The text said "[women should not preach]... 1.

But if any woman among us think she has an extraordinary call from God to speak in public, (and we are sure it must be an extraordinary call that can authorize it,) we are of the opinion she should in general, address her own sex and those only: And upon this condition alone..."[2] The instruction was said to result from the work that his wife was doing.