New Hanover County Public Library Digital Collections
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The Spinster's Club
No full textThe Spinster's Club, 1958.
From left to right: Harlene Vance (1939- ), Eleanor Colucci (1938- ), Betsy Burney, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Jewett. Spinster clubs were popular in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. It was a way for young women to get together to socialize, with the understanding that when you got married you would leave the group
Esther Williams, Azalea Queen XI
No full textEsther Williams, serving as Azalea Queen XI, meeting with Russell Burney and Betsy Burney Wright.
Esther Williams (1921-2013), competitive swimmer and MGM movie star, helped popularize synchronized swimming with her many water-themed films. She was Azalea Queen XI for Wilmington, NC's Azalea Festival in 1958.
Russell Burney (1912-1983) was the Mayor Pro Tem of Wilmington in 1958, and he is accompanied by his daughter Elizabeth Moody Burney Wright (1938-2001)
Katherine Howell
No full textKatherine Howell at the New Hanover County Public Library.
Katherine Howell (1920-1990) became Head Librarian of the New Hanover County Public Library (NHCPL) in 1956, just in time to oversee its move from the 3rd floor of the Wilmington City Hall to the Wilmington Light Infantry Building. She continued as head of the library for 28 years, until 1982, after she supervised yet another move of the library from the Light Infantry Building to the empty Belk-Beery Building at Chestnut and 3rd streets. She started the interlibrary loan program, the microfilming of old newspapers, added bookmobile services, hired the first professional children's librarians, organized the University of North Carolina Wilmington library, installed air conditioning, oversaw integration for both patrons and employees of the library, helmed the addition of the Carolina Beach branch, expanded outreach to the young and elderly, installed copiers and microfilm readers. These efforts essentially built the foundation for what the NHCPL has become. She also was a historian and preservationist, a supporter of the St. John's Museum of Art, the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, and the Historic Wilmington Foundation. The Historic Wilmington Foundation still gives the Katherine Howell award to someone who shows devotion to the preservation of local history
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No full textThis divided back postcard features a photograph by Jack Loughlin capturing people boating, swimming, and skiing near Wrightsville Beach
Poochoo, the monkey of Monkey Junction
No full textLiving a quiet life, Monkey Junction monkey is friendly. The summer of 1955 a capuchin monkey climbed down from a tree and started rearranging things in the Oxendine family's Monkey Junction home. In two years Poochoo, the monkey, spread sabotage and disorganization in a manner that did credit to a trained espionage agent. Star-News staff writer Tom Inglis wrote a full newspaper story about Poochoo for the Sunday Star-News June 16, 1957
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No full textThis divided back postcard features a photograph which captures sailboats racing and people swimming in a bay at Wrightsville Beach
Surf Motel
No full textThis divided back postcard features a photograph of the Surf Motel at Wrightsville Beach
Crystal Fishing Pier
No full textThis divided back postcard features a photograph by Jack Loughlin capturing Johnnie Mercer Pier at Wrightsville Beach
Roman Gabriel
No full textPhotograph of Roman Gabriel playing with the New Hanover High School football team.
Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr. was born in 1940 in Wilmington. He attended New Hanover High School where he was an All-State athlete in baseball, basketball and football. As a football player, Gabriel not only played quarterback but also linebacker and defensive back. He received a football scholarship to attend N.C. State University where he had an extremely successful athletic career. Gabriel was one of the top 1962 NFL draft picks for the Los Angeles Rams. During his professional football career, he was All Pro four times, Rams MVP three times, 1969 NFL MVP, Pro Bowl MVP, 1973 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and Man of the Year three times. Gabriel has remained an important figure in the Wilmington community, helping to raise money for many charitable causes in the area
Kathryn Grayson, Azalea Queen X
No full textKathryn Grayson, Azalea Queen X, cutting the ribbon at the home of Mrs. Bruce B. Cameron during the 1957 Azalea Festival. Eleanor Spence LeGrand Hervey stands in the background.
Kathryn Grayson (1922-2010) was a popular singer and actress and a native of NC, born in Winston-Salem. Eleanor Spence LeGrand Hervey (1904-1999) was a member of the Cape Fear Garden Club, which plans the Azalea Festival Garden Tour. She was born in Atlanta, GA, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery