Shortly after completing the recent biography of my Aunt Jessie Pifer, I opened her steamer trunk (the high school graduation gift from her parents in 1924) to have a photograph taken of its fabric-lined interior to be used on the back cover of that book. Years ago when we moved Jessie to an assisted living facility I had not opened the drawers in the trunk because it felt intrusive. A few years later when circumstances compelled me to tell Jessie's story, I chose to keep the trunk closed and positioned so that the purple and gold decal in the shape of a pennant with the word "Clarion" emblazoned on it could best be viewed, serving as a daily reminder of Jessie's life and what had happened to her. Expecting that the standing trunk would make a charming photograph, I set it upright and opened it, to best display its set of five drawers on the right, integrated metal holding rods with custom-fitted wooden hangers of various shapes on the left, and its build-in cosmetic case on a swivel at the bottom. In opening the bottom drawer to give depth to the view of the trunk's interior I found a dozen letters, tied with a white ribbon, that turned out to be from Jessie's high school and college girl friends. Under that small bundle I discovered a cache of more than 100 letters dating from 1924 to 1938, some tied together, others loose, but all addressed to "Jebbie" and all from her suitors during that period of her youth.    Reading letters, particularly love letters, is similar to reading a diary. We are interested and curious, but still hold a certain sense of being intrusive. However, letters are still considered the most personal way to understand the character and personality of an individual and of the zeitgeist in which the letters are written. Placing these particular letters in their historical context of "The Roaring Twenties" and "The Great Depression" is particularly poignant in that they are written mainly by those in their early twenties, young people who were on the cusp of the great adventure of life. In this collection most of the letters are written by gentlemen to one particular beauty--Jessie Beverly Pifer, dashing, independent, fashionable, and always remembered as the stylish and vibrant Jebbie, Belle of the Class of 1924. The letters, many beautiful in their own right because of the handwriting, provide a first hand account of daily travails lived by the young nearly a century ago, expressing a parallel to modes of communication of then and now, displaying emotions familiar to all generations, and revealing the love and devotion of All the Gentlemen Callers who loved Jessie. We can't help but wonder how emails of today can ever connect the sender and the receiver through the carefully constructed, flowing reflection, and very personal expression found only in love letters written with a fountain pen. The Author, Dr. Judith Thompson Witmer, holds a respect and passion for social history of small towns and the families who live there. The author of nearly a dozen books, ranging from biographies to educational administration and other trade books, her most recent publication (2011) is Jebbie: Vamp to Victim, the true story of Jessie Beverly Pifer, a beautiful young woman with many suitors who became entrapped in a web of deceit. All the Gentlemen Callers is a companion to Jebbie, focusing on the social interaction of young men who came calling on young women, a generation like no other in changing the social times and expectations of becoming adults in a time Studs Terkel called "euphoric" and F. Scott Fitzgerald termed "The Jazz Age."

All the Gentlemen Callers: Letters Found in a 1920's Steamer Trunk

Witmer, Judith Thompson

Parenting & Relationships

Yesteryear Publishing

Growing Up Silent in the 1950s likely will become the definitive social history of the Silent Generation. Whether you were a part of this generation or have no idea there was such a generation, here you will find the answer to the central question: Who are the Silent Generation and why were they not acknowledged? Those of the Silent Generation have been called deferential, well-mannered, and book smart conformists. They did what they were expected to do, putting responsibilities first, always postponing who they wanted to be. They were reared in a contradictory world, living their youth in the safest time in history, yet always worried about "the bomb." Curwensville Joint High School Class of 1955, already identified by researchers as the year most representative of the Silent Generation, serves as the archetype of what it really was like growing up during the 1950s with comments and recollections from twenty percent of the class members.

Growing Up Silent in the 1950s: Not All Tailfins and Rock 'n' Roll

History

Historical Study & Educational Resources

<p>A manual for women looking for a job or a better job in the field of educational administration. Covers the process of "moving up" from the initial decision to change one's position to issues such as self-presentation, hierarchy, leadership, communication, networking, and maintaining oneself in a high-pressure position. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.</p>

Moving Up: A Guidebook for Women in Educational Administration

Education & Teaching

Schools & Teaching

Scarecrow Pr

Moving Up!: A Guidebook for Women in Educational Administration

This second edition provides expert guidance based on research and experience for women in and moving into educational administration. Moving Up! ranges in scope from determining whether you are interested in exploring a career in educational administration through all of the decisions administrators face-from where to sit in a meeting, to signing a contract, to dealing with difficult people, to decisions on the homefront. It provides facts and choices for the reader, including real-life examples.Although the book addresses women, it is equally helpful to men who want to learn the ropes and know how women think and lead. A major point is that while women's leadership and collaborative styles are most appropriate to today's needs and that women possess the most effective characteristics for developing a cooperative, participatory management style, the best results come from merging the leadership strengths of both men and women. Well-written and readable, this book speaks to the reader in layman's terms while maintaining an academic purpose.

R&L Education

This guidebook provides expert guidance based on research and experience for women in and moving into educational administration. The author takes the approach of a wise friend who has lived the experiences and helps the aspiring administrator use the best strategies in overcoming obstacles to success. Well-written and readable, it speaks to the reader in layman's terms while maintaining an academic purpose.

Politics & Social Sciences

Women's Studies

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Witmer, Judith Thompson. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Witmer, Judith Thompson

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Witmer, Judith Thompson. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

All the Gentlemen Callers: Letters Found in a 1920's Steamer Trunk

Growing Up Silent in the 1950s: Not All Tailfins and Rock 'n' Roll

Moving Up: A Guidebook for Women in Educational Administration

Moving Up!: A Guidebook for Women in Educational Administration

Moving Up!: A Guidebook for Women in Educational Administration