桐城派殿军马其昶所纂《桐城耆旧传》中附有《列女》1卷，收录了21位桐城女子的贞孝节烈事迹，具有重要的史学研究价值。《列女》主要文献来源于正史、地方志、文集和族谱，间或采摭其他史料；文本特征鲜明，传主生活年代集中在明末清初时期，并根据传主身份背景进行区别刻画。从史学方面来说，马其昶的编纂动机在于发挥《列女》的垂训功能；从社会方面来说，则在于凸显贤妇的示范作用。此外，作者个人志向因素也不可忽略。

The Old Biography of Tongcheng Seniors compiled by Ma Qichang, the last leader of Tongcheng School, includes a volume of Virtuous Women(Lie Nv), which includes the deeds of filial piety and chastity by 21 Tongcheng women, and has important historical research value. The main sources of Virtuous Women are official histories, local records, anthologies, and genealogies, with occasional references to other historical sources. The volume text has distinctive characteristics, with the main characters living during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and portrayed differently based on their identity backgrounds. From a historical perspective, Ma Qichang's compilation motivation is to leverage the educational function of Virtuous Women, while from a social perspective, it is to highlight the exemplary role of virtuous women. Additionally, the compiler's personal ambition cannot be ignored.