I just acquired a scrapbook so full it's literally bursting at the seams. It contains the travels and adventures of Edythe (or Edith) Keil in the 1930's and 40's. Thanks to Edythe's book, we get a glimpse into her adventurous life.
While most women were settling down to domestic life, Edythe and her friends traveled the world. She broke social norms and was well educated, worked for the FBI, worked as a stenographer for the Railroad Materials Division of Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, held a student pilot license, and formed a fun club with her friends.
At the age of 19, Edythe was vacationing in Wildwood by the Sea when she was chosen as the Queen Oceania in 1930. She reigned over the baby parade that year, complete with crown and gown. The news made national headlines. She returned as a former Queen in 1960 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event. Her 1930 Queen sash is in the scrapbook, along with her airplane ticket, pictures and news articles, letters from the committee chair, and other artifacts. At this point, her name was spelled differently than what appears in the rest of her life story.
Edith then began a life of well documented travel. The lines on the map below show where she traveled in the U.S. and all of these adventures are in the book. Edith and her friends traveled to Havana, Nassau, Washington DC, Cleveland, South Bend, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Catalina Island, Sun Valley, Detroit, Mackinaw Island, the Lake Superior region, Paris, North Carolina, Florida, and plenty of other places.
Edith's traveling friends were Gerry and Lorna. Although Gerry was living in Cleveland and Lorna in South Bend, the three friends formed a club, complete with humorous by-laws, called the A.I.W. Club (Ain't I Wonderful Club). The friends had an incredible sense of humor, with Gerry writing a telegram to Edith's future husband to wager $10 that Edith would not be married by the time their next trip arrived. Edith did eventually married George H. Bishop and they remained near Pittsburg. The date is unknown to me, as I haven't been able to find a record yet.
Lorna was a travel writer, so a few of her articles are in the book alongside pictures of the friends enjoying the locations.
The very last item I found in the book is a letter from Gerry. She writes to her friends from her hospital bed that she is in poor health. It's a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the enduring value of cherished friendships.
This family artifact belongs with a direct descendent and in the loving care of her or her friends' family. Thank you for the inspiration to live life to its fullest, Edith! Enjoy looking through a portion of the pictures.
