Our Past Is Present August 23, 2018

August 23, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            At our most recent “Memories at the Museum,” those present shared their memories around the topic of “Women In Pants.” The intent of the session was to identify women who were or still are leaders in our community as well as reflect on some of the biases of those who were accustomed to seeing women in skirts or dresses in the past.

            Dr. Mary Devin and Florence Whitebread recalled that in the mid 1950s that in the positions they held then, women could wear pants to work only on Friday’s.  Shelley Hoyle-Kite remembered that when she was a senior at Junction City High School in 1969 and 70, that girls could wear pants or pant suits to school. 

Roberta Kelly shared that her father, Perry Pangrac was the Junction City High School band director in 1957.  She told that he got into trouble at a Junction City, Manhattan and Abilene Band Day when Roberta and some of her friends wore jeans with the sleeves of their blouses rolled up.  Perry was told that he should have the girls go home, change their clothes and then return.  Mr. Pangrac stated back that if the girls had to leave because of what they were wearing, he would take the whole band with them and not come back.  Apparently the girls got to stay.           

            It was perceived by those present at the discussion at the Museum that the attitudes about what girls and women were expected to wear changed in time in part due to the Title IX Amendment of 1972.  That Amendment provided protection from discrimination based on a person’s gender in educational programs and activities that receive federal dollars. 

            Within the discussion about expectations concerning what women wore to the work place, many past and current female leaders were identified from within our Geary County community.  Certainly this is only a partial list and many more could be included.  Some of those mentioned were Barbie Craft, Bettina Coover, Ruby Stevens, Sheila Roesler, Beth Gouldy Mathis-Clark, Florence Whitebread, Mary Devin, Mary Sanders, Irene Rogers, Ruth Barsel Gfeller and Mary Grammar to name a few.  Perhaps you have stories about this topic of “Women In Pants” and women who have been or are leaders in our community.  Please share them with our staff at the Geary County Historical Society, by calling 238-1666 or stopping by our Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets.