Ruth Fielding

In the Great Northwest

One of the longest and most diverse of the early twentieth-century girls' series, the "Ruth Fielding" books (thirty titles between 1913 and 1934) have Ruth mature from a young girl of twelve to a young woman with a husband and child. Many of the stories are mysteries; others focus on school, travel, new inventions such as motion pictures, or patriotic participation in war. Like the Moving Picture Girls, Ruth is fascinated by the world of film and produces her own movies, which forms the plot of several stories. Ruth's character and the mystery element in most of the titles inspired the Nancy Drew books (a later Stratemeyer series) and later mystery / adventure series.

-Dr. William K. Finley

An Exhibit
Hodges Reading Room
February 15 - May 15, 2010

WASPs are awarded Congressional Gold Medals

The surviving World War II era WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) were presented with Congressional Gold Medals on March 10, 2010. These women test flew and ferried planes, towed targets for target practice, and instructed male pilots. Over 1,000 women served from the creation of the WASPS in 1943 to the abrupt dismantling of the program in 1944. These women performed a great service to our country, but they never received military status or benefits.


Here are some links to stories about the awards:

US Air Force: WASPs awarded Congressional Gold Medal

Associated Press/NPR: Female WWII Aviators Honored With Gold Medal

C-SPAN: Video and transcript of entire Gold Medal Ceremony


Bonus links:

NPR: Radio Diaries Oral Histories of the WASPS

Greensboro News & Record story about former Greensboro-ite Susie Winston Bain

The Women Veterans Historical Project houses the collections oral histories and materials of 16 WASP veterans (including Susie Winston Bain):

• Dorothy Avery


• Susie Winston Bain


• Meredith Rolfe Campbell


• Violet Thurn Cowden


• Mildred Davidson Dalrymple


• Mildred Jane Baessley Doyle


• Elaine Danforth Harmon


• Dorothy Post Hoover


• Joan Whelan Lyle


• Nancy Mayes


• Ruth Mary Petry


• Dolores Muerer Reed


• Nancy Featherhoff Sendelbach


• Margaret L. Chamberlain Smith


• Marjorie S.Sanford Thompson


• Ann K. Watters

The Outdoor Girls

in Army Service


The twenty-three titles in the "Outdoor Girls" series (1913-1933) offered young readers a mixture of travel and mystery / adventure stories. The stories' subtitles often reveal a mystery that is at the heart of the plot.

"These are the tales of the various adventures participated in by a group of bright, fun-loving, up-to-date girls who have a common bond in their fondness for outdoor life, camping, travel and adventure." The Stratemeyer Syndicate's series for girls were generally advertised for girls twelve to sixteen. "They are clean, and wholesome and free from sensationalism," the publisher claimed.

-Dr. William K. Finley

An Exhibit
Hodges Reading Room
February 15 - May 15, 2010

The Red Cross Girls

Afloat with the Flag




One of many patriotic series spawned by World War I, the "Red Cross Girls" was the earliest and most prolific, with ten titles appearing between 1916 and 1920. Despite the images on the cover, the endpapers of this series depict a world curiously detached from the horrors of war.

-Dr. William K. Finley

An Exhibit
Hodges Reading Room
February 15 - May 15, 2010

Walter Clinton Jackson and the History of Jackson Library

The UNCG Archives has recently unveiled a new archival exhibit documenting the life of Chancellor Walter Clinton Jackson and his connection to Jackson Library. It is on display in the vertical connector case and will be visible from March 15, 2010 until September 2010.

Walter Clinton Jackson was born in Hayston, Georgia on June 18, 1879. In 1909, he joined the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) faculty as a professor and then later became head of the Department of History. In 1934 he was appointed the third Chief Executive of the College and served 16 years as Chancellor. In 1948, ground was broken for the construction of a new library on campus. It was completed in 1950 and was officially named Jackson Library in honor of W.C. Jackson in 1960.

The Girls of Central High

at Basketball : or The Great Gymnasium Mystery


Several among the seven titles in this series (1914-1921) broke new ground in promoting sports for girls. While boys' sports books proliferated and were extremely popular, books advocating athletics for young girls were sparse in the early twentieth century. All but two of the books in this series focus on various sports; the first title, Rivals for All Honors, even stresses the formation of a Girls' Athletic Association. Not surprisingly, the main character, Clara Hargrew, has a boy's nickname, "Bobby."


-Dr. William K. Finley

An Exhibit
Hodges Reading Room
February 15 - May 15, 2010

Miss Minerva

and William Green Hill

Frances Boyd Calhoun's book created a minor sensation when it introduced the world to crotchety but warm-hearted Miss Minerva and her rambunctious nephew William Green Hill. Miss Minerva is initially described as a "sober, proper, dignified, religious old maid unused to children."

Sadly, Calhoun died before she could add a sequel to this first book (which went through eleven printings in less than two years); but the characters proved too popular to die; and the publisher Reilly and Lee turned the series over to Emma Speed Sampson, who turned out eleven more titles between 1918 and 1939. Although the heavy dialect and racial stereotyping deterred many readers, the characters proved so lovable that the success of the series was guaranteed. Many of the titles in the series remain in print today.

-Dr. William K. Finley

An Exhibit
Hodges Reading Room
February 15 - May 15, 2010

University Archivist, Betty Carter

UNCG Campus Weekly's Five Spot features Betty Carter in the March 3, 2010 edition. Here's a teaser : CW asked her about some of the campus’ historical figures – in particular, those who deserve a little more of the spotlight. Want to know more? Read to entire article here : The Five Spot | UNCG Campus Weekly