Montana Book & Women’s Page Editor Beverley Morales
I was so excited to learn about the book, Montana Stirrups, Sage and Shenanigans: Western Ranch Life in a Forgotten Era. It was written by sisters Francie Brink Berg, Anne Brink Sallgren Krickel & Jeanie Brink Thiessen. I communicated with all three women in my research about their sister, Beverley Brink Morales. Beverley was a women’s page editor in Florida and Ohio who won Penney-Missouri Awards. I presented a paper about her work in Florida a few years ago.
The book includes some great information and images of Beverley. I especially loved the image of her with her bees on page 343. After graduating from college, she worked as the public relations director for the American Beekeeping Federation. She wrote press releases that often ran in newspapers. One such piece ran in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She wrote, “Iowa bees have changed their ‘buzz.’ They’re making alfalfa and clover seed now instead of honey.” I also loved the photo of Beverley interviewing Burt Lancaster in Mexico City on page 401.
This is an excellent book about women’s history in Montana. It demonstrates the interesting lives that many had in the west as ranch work needed to be done. They worked with horses and cows, did some butchering and had such fun doing it. This adds to the growing literature that women’s history is a combination of complex stories. I highly recommend this book.
