Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
When I saw this week’s Sepia Saturday prompt, I could not
help thinking of this studio portrait of my grandaunt Violetta Davis Ryan taken
probably in 1920 when she was just 16 years old.
I’ve written so many times about Violetta that I thought
for sure there was nothing left to tell. I turned to NewspaperArchive hoping to
find something new and interesting. Her name popped up often, usually when she
was reappointed as principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary School or when she was
attending a conference for educators. Meh ~
But I did find a couple keepers:
VACCINE VOLUNTEER
When Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was licensed in 1955,
there was a campaign to inoculate all school children. In Rockingham County
where Violetta was a principal, the schools and other facilities were set up as
polio vaccine clinics. Violetta was named as chairman for one of the clinics.
 |
| from Harrisonburg Daily News Record 22 Apr 1955 |
PHOTO DATED
Originally I dated this photo “1960 or 1961” based on a wild-guess
at my sister’s age.
 |
| Glenn, Me, Violetta, Mary Jollette, Bobbie Easter 1962 |
 |
| from Harrisonburg Daily News Record 27 Apr 1962 |
Come to think of it, I do remember that dress as my
Easter frock that year. It looks white, but it was a print of pastel watercolor
swirls and splotches. That doesn’t sound nearly as pretty as it actually was.
SIDE JOB
 |
| from Harrisonburg Daily News Record 8 Nov 1960 |
That’s right! Violetta
sold encyclopedias. My parents bought the 1960 World Book plus the annuals –
obviously from Violetta. We also had the accompanying Childcraft books (in their "handsome Heritage binding") which
were written in simpler text to serve like encyclopedias for younger children.
I used World Book to death but rarely bothered with the Childcraft.
Until I saw this ad, I had forgotten Violetta sold encyclopedias.
Years ago, they were sold door to door. It is not likely she did that though.
She probably sat right at her desk and used her position as teacher and
principal to influence parents and other teachers for which she earned a nice
little 15% commission.
While you’re at your desk or on your phone, please visit
my friends at Sepia Saturday.
Wendy
© 2020, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
Violetta had an interesting career with a variety of interests. That must have felt good to be part of the vaccine giving as I know polio was feared during that time frame. Kinda of like our current virus.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Great to hear more about Violetta...and I like the pattern you described on your Easter dress. We bought (well, my parents) some Collier's encyclopedias, including some great books. I did write several themes with those as resources.
ReplyDeleteA lovely picture and an interesting life.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting our polio vaccine at school.
ReplyDeleteMy parents bought a set of Encyclopedia that came with a set of story books starting with nursery rhymes in the first one up to takes of Ivanhoe. We used both a lot... no google haha!
Blogging A to Z
Oh my - encyclopedias! I remember when owning a set was a big thing. When I was in school we didn't have a set so I was always going to the library to look up information for various school projects and assignments. Does anyone remember the episode of "Friends" when a salesman wanted to sell a set of encyclopedias to 'Joey', but he could only afford one book, so bought the book of "V" and then tried to turn all conversations with his friends to subjects beginning with "V" so he'd seem more knowledgeable? :)
ReplyDeleteThe younger generations don't know much about encyclopedias and how wonderful they were. Likewise they don't know about the dangers of polio and how scary it was. Let's hope another Dr. Salk will discover the vaccine for this new scourge and earn fame with an instant Wikipedia page.
ReplyDeleteI love the details on Ancestors that you can discover from browsing the newspapers online - a great resource. I too remember in the 1950’s the importance attached to Encyclopedias and my mother was keen to get a set for me - but it was not to be. Here the Encyclopedia Britannica wax the desired one to have.
ReplyDeleteWe had the World Book encyclopedias as kids. I seem to remember they were still in the house when the Estate Liquidator came in. When my kids were little, we bought encyclopedias at the grocery store - I think they were Britannica. As I recall, they put out a new one each week so by the end of so many weeks, you had an entire set. I have no idea what happened to those.
ReplyDelete