Thursday, May 31, 2012

Those Places Thursday: Legacy

Those Places is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that invites family historians to post photos and stories about places their ancestors lived. 

View looking toward Main Street
Velma wrote with a white pen but some of her writings
have faded too much to read.

James Madison University
Madison College
Harrisonburg Normal School
Harrisonburg Teachers College


By any name it is a special place because so many women in my family are alums:  my two great-aunts Violetta Davis Ryan and Velma Davis Woodring, my mother Mary Eleanor Davis Slade, and me.  My cousin Glenn Davis and husband Barry were among the first men to attend after Madison officially became co-ed (there were male students prior but no dorms for them).



These pictures are from Velma’s scrapbook devoted to her college life in 1924-25.In the weeks ahead, I will share more of her memories of her roommate, dorm friends, trips, and classes.  



The caption "On Our Way Where?" captures the excitement of being a college girl in the 20s.  Velma is the girl on the far right. The girl next to her is her roomie Leta LaVou. Don't you love that name?  It sounds like a fictional character or a star of the silent screen. 






©2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.
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11 comments:

  1. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and JoyMay 31, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    These are awesome! I look forward to this series, and learning more about Velma and her adventures in college. Leta LaVou is an excellent name, that is for sure.

    Kathy M.

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    Replies
    1. WendyMay 31, 2012 at 11:50 AM

      My mother always considered Velma to be "the fun one" among relatives. The college pictures certainly agree with that assessment!

      Delete
  2. DanaMay 31, 2012 at 10:31 AM

    I agree: Leta LaVou is a beautiful name!

    That caption on the college photo is wonderful. It started my writer-mind thinking of ideas. :)

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    Replies
    1. WendyMay 31, 2012 at 11:52 AM

      I do wish Velma had been better about including names instead of goofy captions so that I could stalk her friends through the census records. Then I could perhaps answer Velma's question.

      Delete
  3. SallyMay 31, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    A bevy of beauties who look as if they know how to have fun!! Great names.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MaryMay 31, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    I thought that was Violetta rather Velma! First time I thought they looked alike!

    Don't forget Glenn went there (unless you are focusing on just women in the family) =)

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    Replies
    1. WendyMay 31, 2012 at 12:18 PM

      I didn't forget Glenn, and I didn't forget Barry either. But the sentence was about women in the family. I shall go back and edit to include the menfolk.

      Delete
    2. MaryMay 31, 2012 at 3:55 PM

      I was just thinking about all the folks in our family that have attended Madison. Don't change a thing! I think it is terrific the way you have it. I was just chattin'

      Delete
  5. Jana Iverson LastMay 31, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    Great post! I love the photo of the ladies! They looked like a fun bunch! And yes, Leta LaVou is a name that invokes the thoughts of early Hollywood days.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MMay 31, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    WoW! Those girls were having some fun way back...probably because there were no guys in the dorms :) I love the campus photos....makes me sad that I didn't take more photos of my college campus way back when...and it has changed so much now.

    ReplyDelete

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