Let Your Light Shine
WYOMING STATE ORGANIZATION PROJECT
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE:
Pioneer Women Educators of Wyoming Vol. VI
This volume will focus on biographies and autobiographies of women educators in Wyoming born
between 1950 and 1960. If someone born outside of these dates has not been included in a prior
volume, she can be included in this one. They need not be members of Delta Kappa Gamma.
How should a report/story be written?
First of all, it should be readable. Biographies can be dry-as-dust or fascinating, depending upon how
they are written. Work hard at making the first paragraph so interesting that the reader will want to read
on. First impressions of people, written or live, are extremely important.
- Choose strong, vivid verbs, discriminating adverbs, and picture-making adjectives in giving a good description of your subject.
- Use conversation. It is easily read and therefore makes a stronger impression than does indirect reporting.
- Use “human interest” incidents. They are revealing of the life and times of the subject of your paper.
- Give the subject’s educational philosophy. How did she feel about her profession? This is important.
- Be accurate. Give dates and sources of your information. These are not just interesting stories. They are biographies and that may be invaluable historically.
- Statistics are vital, but we want more than a tabulation of statistics.
- Make it a fun, interesting, enjoy able-to-read story of the teacher’s life.
Where can I find my data?
Sources for information on our pioneer women teacher include:
A. Newspaper files B. Letters
C. Diaries D. Educational journals
E. Scrapbooks F. Interviews with family
G. Former students H. School officials
I. Woman educator herself J. Woman educator’s own biography data sheet
What material should I get?
A. Place and date of birth B. Name of parents
C. Ancestral background/family D. Character traits
E. Woman educator’s own family F. Friendships
G. Travels H. Hobbies
I. Education: dates/names of schools attended J. Teaching experience: years, places, types of service
K. Articles published L. Honors/awards
M.Activities other than teaching
Necessary Inclusions
A. Literary charm
B. Human interest
C. Accurate historical background
D. Professional understanding
E. Source: can be footnotes
F. One clear picture of the teacher only, wallet-size if possible. For example, a picture taken on
picture day at school would be great! If you wish the picture returned, please send SASE.
G. Length – no longer than 4 double-spaced pages. If you can, we would prefer the following:
a. Size 10, Times New Roman Font
b. Two single-spaced pages as you will have two pages in the book
c. Email your manuscript, scanned or digital photo and/or scanned signed permission slip
as an attachment to me at [email protected]. You may also mail a hard copy
of any or all of these items.
H. Email: [email protected] OR Mail: Harmony Davidson, P.O. Box 431, Saratoga, WY 82331
I. Be sure you include an address on the signed written permission slip.
A Google Form is also available if you would like to submit a biography/autobiography in that way: https://forms.gle/bhmhc7EmJkX6xkVw7
-----WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR PUBLICATION-----
I (your own name) _______________________________________________do hereby give to Alpha Xi State of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International the written permission to use the biography of (name of pioneer teacher)____________________________________________ which has not been copied verbatim or quoted from any copyrighted publication except by permission of the author or publisher.
Date________________________Signed____________________________________________________
-----WRITTEN PERMISSION TO USE NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS -----
I _________________________________________do hereby give written permission for the publication of the above mentioned material.
Signed_______________________________________Date_____________________
Please indicate a name and address of a person or persons that we can contact for further information or for sales of published copies. If the woman educator in the biography is still living, please include her address also.
Names, addresses, phone numbers of contacts: ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Name and address of woman educator:_______________________________________________________