The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-23

S~SSee@eeeSs@NS ~ Ses~
tor Of the Alabama state department
to move into her new ofdce, $780,
600 structure that ranks with the
best of It's kind anywhere.
A fitting building to house the
states priceless manuscripts and
historic relics has been her keenest
desire since she became department
director 20 years ago, upon death
of her husband, DR.. Thomas M.
Owen, founder Of the department.
At last, that desire is fulfilled.
Mrs. Owen an1 her staff will take
over the beat e.ul, columned, mar
BILE structure adjoining the historic
state capitol early this spring.
Just as the imposing new build
ing stands as result Of the efforts
of Mrs. Owen, so will 1t in the flu
ture mark its tireless director as
one of A1abama's greatest women.
Known for Patriotism
Mrs. Owen brought a zeal and love
for Alabama into heI! work that has
made her name a synonym for state
patriotism in Alabama's capitol, that
white doomed structure where Jeffer-
son Davis took oath as president Of
the Confederacy.
In addition, she ranks high as an
author, historian and newspaper
woman.
Her fervor for Alabama's historic
works is exemplified In her recent
refusal to sell for 100000 few
valuable newspapers in the state
files Of more than $4,000 copies.
1--WE have never disposed of any
thing ever given TO or purchased by
the department from a postage
stamp to any other ttem," she ex-
planned.
1.-THE department regards itself as
the guardian of every item that has
ever come into its possession" she
declared.
Although not yet in the new
building, Mrs. Owens already Is talk
ing about the two new wings which
she hopes to add to it some time in
the future, costing about 5000, 1000
each.
despite the size Of the new build
ing, 1t is going to give us 10000 cubic
feet less space than we now utilize
in our scattered rooms" she said.
"The wings will be necessary to
round out our new quarters as they
should be-"
The director plans to house sep
arate historical collections and docu-
ments in various rooms Of the new
building, such as an Indian room, a
Confederate room and Colonial
room.
History in Plaques (
Eight bronze plaques depicting
Alabama history from the advent
of De Soto through the World War
will be placed in the main foyer Of
the archives and history building.
They, too, were Mrs. Owens idea.
Also, she has issued an appeal for
some philanthropic Albanian or
outsider to donate 500, 1000 to $50, 900
for a huge bronze fountain, symbolic
Of the state, to be placed In the front
lawn of the new archives and his
tory home. . T.
Mrs. Owen has served Alabama in
many ways other than as director Of
the department of archives and his
tory. Some of the posts she has held
include: state president Of the wom-
ems auxiliary, Southern CONNER
cial Congress; state chairman Wom-
ems Democratic League; state chair
man of the National League for
Women's Service: vice president
women's committee Alabama Coun-
Gil Of Defense during the World
war, and president Of the Writer'S
Conclave.
Her literary accomplishments In
clude: novel, "Yvonne of Braith-
waite; a historical compilation,
"Our States-Alabama"; former edi-
tor of the women's department and
the education section of the Mont
gomery Advertiser; member of the
fiction and feature stats Of Uncle
Remus Magazine and Southern
Woman's Magazine, and she is au-
thor of the Alabama Centenary His
tory Plays for schools and colleges.