Girl Up Club Travels Back in Time Through Diaries

Girl Up is traveling back in time! The recent Manatee Middle School Girl Up meetings have included learning about historical women of Marco Island through diaries. On February 28th Barbara Malta, a member of the Marco Island Woman’s club, delighted the Girl Up club with her Victorian dress and the girls are thankful for how women’s dress has changed! They were surprised at how heavy and uncomfortable the Victorian dress appeared. Ms. Malta also introduced the historical importance of diaries for women, especially in Victorian times. The Marco Island Woman’s Club purchased a diary for each Girl Up member. 

The following week on March 7th, Ms. Malta, the author of “Betty Collier, Marco Island Pioneer, Ribbons of Ibis,” returned as Betty Collier and dressed in a white gown to deliver a lively presentation full of captivating stories about Betty Collier, who settled on Marco Island in 1870 when Marco was a deserted tropical island. Each Girl Up member received a signed copy of Barbara Malta’s book.

On Monday, March 21, Girl Up received a surprise visit from another special guest, Ms. Betsy Perdichizzi, a member of Marco Island DAR and the author of “The Pioneer Girl’s Journal.” Her book is based on the diaries and letters of Saloma and Orida Olds of Marco Island from the 1900-1920. Dressed in clothing worn in the 1900s, Ms. Betsy shared about the life of Saloma Olds’ on Marco Island to the Girl Up club. After Ms. Betsy’s intriguing reenactment, she gifted every Girl Up member a signed copy of “The Pioneer Girl’s Journal.”

The recent presentations have given the Girl Up members a unique perspective of life in historical Florida, especially for women. In addition, the presentations also emphasized the importance of journaling or keeping diaries. The Marco Island DAR is sponsoring a Girl Up visit to the Marco Island Historical Museum on Saturday, April 23. Both DAR and the Marco Island Woman’s Club members have planned a fun-filled tour of the museum. The Barbara Malta and Betsy Perdichizzi presentations have truly excited the girls for their upcoming trip to Marco Island’s historic past.

This article was written by Citlali Benitez, an eighth-grade student at Manatee Middle School and Girl Up member.