Ardis recently explained that part of the inspiration for her project was a post two years ago at Juvenile Instructor:

http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/in-the-ghetto-i-like-it-here-but-when-can-i-get-out/

If you read that as well as Ardis’s posts explaining the project at Keepapitchinin, not only will you see plenty of laudatory references to the Women of Faith series, it will also explain the difference between biography (useful and necessary in its own way) and her project.

I think that Ardis’ histories demonstrate that women have been at the table all along. The problem is that some “traditionalists” and feminists have failed to recognize that fact. Our historical ignorance blinds us to the realities before us. Excuse the personal example. but my grandmother certainly felt like she was at the table. While she respected priesthood keys and authority granted by leadership callings she frequently found herself reminding individuals that a church calling did not make the person. Service, character and commitment did. Common people of both genders have been the heart and soul of the Church since the beginning, yet the history we produce seems fixated on “leaders.” I applaud Ardis’ efforts and hope many more historians and teachers make an effort to tell the stories of all Latter-day Saints. Such a movement would change Latter-day Saint culture in enormous ways. It would make us all more humble and egalitarian.