Florence S. Burge Papers

Collection

Identifier: 82-36

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Florence Burge collection consists of material dating from 1955-1966 and documents Burge's professional newspaper writing and editing career. They include an unpublished manuscript biography of Noble Getchell coauthored by Burge and Getchell. Burge wrote numerous articles on a freelance basis both before and after her appointment as women's editor for the Reno Evening Gazette; at least a portion of that work is represented in this collection in the form of typed drafts or published articles. Many of the subjects were historical, focusing on individuals, families, and businesses who were Reno pioneers. These pieces were frequently illustrated with photographs copied from originals belonging to the subject of each article; both the published images and unused photos are part of this collection. Subjects included Cannon's Drug Store, Charlie Eaton, Charlie Nash, Orrin C. and Silas Ross, and the Nevada Republican Party, to name a few.

Although not complete, one series in this collection documents Burge's career as editor through numerous copies of her column "Round About" and many editions (which she edited) of the women's pages of the Gazette. These copies often contain comments by the Gazette editor, Rollan Melton. Burge also kept files of samples of what she thought were good society pages from other newspapers; a limited number of these are also part of the collection.

An important series for documenting Burge's career as a journalist pertains to the award which she received from J.C. Penney - University of Missouri for best women's pages. This section contains correspondence regarding the award; congratulatory notes from readers, friends, and peers; and materials used in workshops held in conjunction with the presentation of the award in Missouri. There are also several photographs of the award ceremonies.

The last series of this collection contains an unpublished manuscript biography of Noble Getchell, which was co-authored by Burge and Getchell.

Dates

1955-1966

Creator

Burge, Florence S., 1912-1986 (Creator, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested.

Conditions Governing Use

The research notes and typescript copy of the Noble Getchell manuscript may be viewed for scholarly research but may not be published; the photographs are available for research and may be published.

Biographical Note

Nevada journalist Florence Sanford Burge was born in Rochester, New York on April 3, 1912, and attended the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Nevada-Reno, where she studied journalism under Professor Alfred L. Higginbotham. She began freelance writing in 1954, doing feature stories for Reno newspapers. Before studying journalism, Burge met Lee Burge, the man who became her husband in 1944; they had twin daughters together.

Burge became the women's section editor of the Reno Evening Gazette in 1959, a position she held until 1966. Subsequently, she worked as a reporter and editor for the North Lake Tahoe Sierra Sun, owned and operated the Flo Burge public relations and advertising agency at Incline Village, Nevada, and did freelance writing.

Burge was the 1964 recipient of the J.C Penney-University of Missouri award for best women's pages for a paper with a circulation of up to 25,000 and was awarded several state and national awards by the National Federation of Press Women. She was president of the Nevada Press Women, recording secretary of the National Federation of Press Women, director of Region Two of the National Federation of Press Women, and a member and officer in numerous other professional, civic, and cultural organizations.

Florence Burge died in Reno in March 1986.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Florence Sanford Burdge (1912-1986) was a freelance writer, editor, and journalist in Reno, Nevada. The collection includes draft and published copies of Burge's writings as a freelance author and women's page editor; correspondence from readers and friends; correspondence and papers related to receiving the J. C. Penney -University of Missouri award for best women's pages; and unpublished biography of Noble Getchell. Material from 1955-1966.

Arrangement

Arranged into the following series: 1) Correspondence; 2) J.C. Penney-University of Missouri Award; 3) Published Articles; 4) Women's Pages Editor; 5) Noble Getchel Biographical Manuscript

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Florence Burge in 1981.

Separated Materials

The Burge papers originally included numerous copies of magazines and monographs to which Burge contributed articles, but because of their bulk, these publications have been removed from the manuscript collections and transferred to the book stacks of the Special Collections Department. The following is a list of these publications. Unless otherwise noted, Florence Burge is either the author or editor of each item.

"Judge Richard Nash Held Esteem of Entire Town" in Nevada Historical Miscellany, pp 61-68. Published by the Nevada Press Women. Sparks: Western Promoting and Publishing Company, 1976
"My God I Thought...." etc. (Spring 1977): 12-13. Burge, Florence. In Nevada Pen and Palette. A Collection of Memorabilia, pp 23-28. Edited by Florence Burge. Reno: Nevada Press Women, 1976
The Press Woman [contain mentions of Burge]. Vol. XXVIII No. 2 (March - April 1967); and Vol. XXVIII No. 3 (May - June 1967)
View: A Guide to High Country Living. Vol. I No. 6 (August 1966)
"Untapped Goldmine." View. Vol. 2 No. 2 (May 1967) 4-5
View Reno - Lake Tahoe 24 Hour Guide. 1967
"Winter Cruise." View. Vol. 1 No. 10 (February 1967)
"Nevada - The Cultural Flop?" View. Vol. 2 No. 1 (March 1967)
View. Vol. 1 No. 9 (January 1967)
"Ski Incline Village." View. Vol. 1 No. 8 (November 1966)