Barbara Small Hamilton, born on July 16, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, she attended the Avery Coonley School before moving to California in 1934. She was a nurse, author, and survivor-advocate who dedicated much of her later life to helping others heal from the trauma of intergenerational abuse. Before becoming an author, Hamilton worked for many years at Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. She earned her Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license in 1971 after moving to Redding, California. She published her autobiography, The Hidden Legacy, in 1992 at the age of 72. The book was a deeply personal account of the devastating consequences of sexual abuse across three generations. Following the publication of her book, she became an active and vocal advocate for victims of incest, using her personal story to break the silence surrounding family secrets. At the time of her passing in February 2008, she was survived by a large family, including 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is remembered for her "unsparingly honest" writing style and her ability to add a generational dimension to the literature on family trauma.