Book about Peabody women available now

“Women of Peabody,” a project of the Peabody Historical Society one and a half years in the making, was due from Mennonite Press Tuesday.

The project was partially funded by a grant from the Kansas Humanities Council. By the terms of the grant, both the Kansas State Historical Library in Topeka and the Wichita Public Library will receive a copy. The Wichita Public Library has a large collection of information on Kansas women.

The Peabody Municipal Library and Peabody City Office will each receive a copy for reference and study.

The books will be available Memorial Day weekend from the Peabody Historical Society.

The 256-page book has both color and black and white photos as well as CDs of interviews.

Included are stories about such local women as 95-year-old Opal Craney, a city girl who loves the farm, and seasoned rug hooker Virgia Jones, who just celebrated her 100th birthday.

The book tells fascinating local facts as they were remembered by the late Joan Berns and Betty Walker. Family members of Frances Baker and Cleo DeForest offer memoirs and tales on CDs.

The stories of these women and more will be available in “Women of Peabody.” For more information contact Carmen South at (620) 983-2512 or Marilyn Jones at (620) 983-2815.