Magazine Tells N.C. History Through Stories of Twelve Women

Our State magazine featured an article on Jane S. McKimmon as part of its “Ladies First” tribute to North Carolina women in its March 2007 issue.

“We decided to chart a course through the past couple hundred years or so by recounting the experiences of 12 women: among them housewives, teachers, businesswomen, artists, inventors and more. In addition, we tell the story of a group of ladies who might have remained anonymous except for an extraordinary feat accomplished when they banded together with a single purpose.

“In honor of these and so many others, we celebrate the vision, the tenacity, the compassion—in short, the spirit—of the women of our state,” wrote Vickie Jarrett, Editor in Chief, concerning the focus of this issue.

The articles themselves are copyrighted, of course. Here are the women who were featured, along with a list of the names of people given in the stories and photographs.

--Jane S. McKimmon, “Home Work,” One woman so inspired hundreds of others across the state that they gladly came together to donate hard-earned butter-and-egg money to build the Jane S. McKimmon Center—by Diane Silcox-Jarrett. In photos with the article: Mrs. Henry Walker, Chancellor John T. Caldwell, Dr. Jack Suberman, Dr. Eloise Cofer, Dr. William Turner, J.T. Outlaw, Ada Dalla-Pozza. Mentioned in the article: Jane S. McKimmon, John Cudd, John T. Caldwell, Bob Scott, Ted Pemberton, Dr. Dennis Jackson, Dr. I.O. Schaub, Ada Dalla-Pozza, Rosalind Redfern.

--Betsy Dowdy, “Betsy’s Wild Ride,” In a story that has passed into legend and lore, a heroic teenager from Currituck County rides into the night to save the day—by Carole Moore. Names in the article include George Washington, Betsy Dowdy, Lord Dunmore, John Marshall, Myrtle Pritchard, Governor Tryon, General William Skinner, Colonel Isaac Gregory, Colonel Robert Howe, Samuel Jarvis, Joseph Dowdy, Tom Bembury, Dr. Stanley R. Riggs, Donna Campbell Smith, Paul Revere.

--Harriet Ann Jacobs, “Hideaway Slave” During her lifetime, Harriet Ann Jacobs experienced the despair of slavery. But she faced that hopelessness with remarkable hope, courage, and optimism—ultimately “bearing the fragrance of freedom.”—by Scotti Kent. Names in the article include: Samuel Morse, John Marshall, James Davis, Daniel Jacobs, Delilah Jacobs, John Jacobs, Joseph and Louisa Matilda Jacobs, Amy Post.

--Anna Burwell, “An Educated Woman,” A progressive educator, schoolmistress Ann Burwell provided her young female students with a curriculum that far exceeded the norms of the day—by Kathy Grant Westbrook. In photos with the article are Anna Burwell and the Rev. Burwell. Mentioned in the article are: Margaret Anna Robertson, William and Ann Spotswood Robertson, Susan Catharine Spotswood, Rev. Robert Burwell, Mary and John Burwell, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hobbs, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly, Mary Todd Lincoln, Elvan Cobb, Cheryl F. Junk, Mary and Susan Murphy, Jennifer Fleischner, Lavinia Cole Roberts, Lee Smith, Mariah Snow.

--Addie Clawson, “Appalachian Mail Carrier,” Although her occupation was difficult and considered a man’s job, Addie Clawson made it her own—by Marla Hardee Milling. Mentioned in the article are: Julia Ebel, Betty Lou Wells, Bland Clawson, Rosalee and Melvin Norris, Tommy Critcher.

--Ruth Faison Shaw, “Healing Arts,” Although usually considered a medium of children’s art, finger painting has a more sophisticated use as an art therapy tool, thanks to inventor and visionary educator Ruth Faison Shaw—by Charles Blackburn Jr. Photos with the article picture Ruth Faison Shaw and Bryan Carey. Mentioned in the article are: Bryan Carey, John Thomas Payne, Jennifer Falchi, H.G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, Jack Benny, Walt Disney, Olivia Falchi.

--Ethel Turlington and daughter Hortense, “Lady Farmers,” Back when fathers taught sons how to farm and few women worked outside the home, a determined young widow set an example for her daughter on how to survive and beat the odds—by Jane C. Pittard. Pictured are Ethel and Hortense Turlington. Mentioned in the article are: John M. Turlington, Jack Leach.

--Hattie Leeper, “Chatty Hatty,” If you were a Charlotte-area radio listener back in the 1950s and ‘60s with your dial tuned to station WGIV, chances were good that you heard the voice of a broadcasting pioneer and legend—by Alan Hodge. The article includes several photos of Hattie Leeper, and people mentioned include:  D.J. Eugene “Genial Gene” Potts, Francis Fitzgerald, Larry Keith, Mary Wells, George “Gorgeous George” Hall

--Betty Feezor, “Cooking With Betty,” Home economist Betty Feezor won a loyal following hosting her namesake television show for 24 years on Charlotte’s WBTV—by Erica Derr. Photos show Betty and Turner Feezor and their children. Mentioned in the article are: David Eades, Audrey Feezor Turner, Gaines Kelly, Susie McIntyre, W. Stanley Moore, Charles Crutchfield.

--Margaret King, “Ordinary Hero,” Read between the lines of the lives of the quiet and unassuming among us, and you may find an extraordinary woman like Margaret King—by Janet C. Pittard. Photos show Lt. Col. Margaret Belva Mizelle in 1942, Johnnie Johnson, and Frances Meal. The article mentions Charles Wesley Mizelle, Mary Ellen Asbell Mizell, Ernestine Kennedy, Polly Witherspoon, Truman Lewis King.

--Mebane Holoman Burgwyn, “Artistic Heritage,” three women—mother, daughter, and granddaughter—create a timeline of imaginative expression in poetry, stories, dance, and sculpture—by Wendy Murray. Photos show Mebane Burgwyn, Pattie Vaughn White, and granddaughter Jo, and Jo’s grandson Edward. Mentioned in the article are: Josephine Burgwyn Pratt, Pattie Vaughn White, Henry Holoman, Kelly Harris, Marion, Mebane, Frank, and Judith Holoman, John Burgwyn, James Pratt, Dr. Barry Johnson.

This issue of Our State magazine also has an interesting article on Horace Kephart, a writer who moved to western North Carolina in 1904. Kephart would go on to write Our Southern Highlanders, a book about the people he met and a record of what life was like in Appalachia in the early 20^th century. Western Carolina University has an interesting online exhibit on Kephart, which is at http://www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/Kephart/horacekephart/. The exhibit includes photos of people living in western North Carolina.

Our State magazine is online at http://www.ourstate.com/. Some of the magazine’s issues are archived but the archives do not go as far back as March 2007, the issue mentioned here.