Gladys Belknap Rowley Scrapbooks

Rowley's column, "Reno Revue" provides a unique glimpse of Reno as she progressed from a "social columnist" to a commentator on Reno life and values from the late 1930s through 1946. Rowley often included letters sent to her in conjunction with her writing, providing an encapsulated view of the community's reaction, as well as illustrating how many of her subjects came to her. She frequently penciled in the comments, compliments, and critique she received, along with her own thoughts on that correspondence. For many years Rowley's "next door neighbor" in the paper was Brewster Adams' column "Values in the Rough"; their quips often provided an amusing running conversation laced with affectionate respect. Adams' columns with mention of Gladys are inserted in date order with Rowley's.

As Rowley grew as a writer, her work ranged over a wide spectrum of subjects. Her two sons, Fitch "Sonny" Rowley and Richard D. Rowley; her parents, Edwin and Harriet Belknap of New York; and the Rowley pets and activities were frequent subjects, as was her own love for and thoughts about them. Reno culture, social life, visitors, and reputation as "divorce center of the U.S." provided many columns. Perhaps the most valuable from an historian's point of view is her picture of World War II and its effect on life everywhere. Here we see Reno sending off the "home boys" to Camp Hahn, near Riverside, California, and subsequently to their new quarters in a Walt Disney studio in Hollywood. As the Reno boys scattered around the world Rowley's columns kept them in touch with home and in return they communicated their own experiences. Sadly, we also witness the death of her own son Sonny, an 18 year old paratrooper, killed during the invasion of Holland, and her final letter to him. Then, as the war ends, the columns give evidence of the return to normalcy in Reno and Nevada.

Although many of Rowley's themes reflect her era, she wrote a number of articles which seemed to have transcended time and are just as relevant today. The subject of working mothers was one which she could and did speak to personally and often. Other themes she addressed were the condition of both the city and county jails, rude drivers, the behavior of children, and the promotion of Reno. Together, they provide a personal history of Reno unavailable from any other source.

This guide was compiled from notes written by Rowley and an unknown author (possibly a relative because of the personal pronouns used). Occasionally there was no entry for a column; in such cases the subject was provided by Manuscript Curator Susan Searcy by consulting the column itself.