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Miss Georgia's Wedding

In early 1917, social news about the State Historical Society’s second librarian, Miss Georgia Carpenter, made the columns of the Bismarck Tribune. She was engaged to Charles Hageman of Bismarck. Charles was a traveling salesman for a Duluth hardware company. The two would be marrying in Randolph, New York, from where she hailed, although they planned to make their home in Bismarck.

Carpenter made her big announcement on St. Patrick’s Day at a tea party at Mrs. Marshall Jewell’s home. Mrs. Jewell was a long-time, prominent member of the community. She also worked with Carpenter at the Historical Society, which was located in the original Capitol building.

Prior to the wedding, “thirty of the Capitol girls,” threw Carpenter a linen bridal shower. Carpenter herself was “Capitol girl,” which referred to women employed at the state Capitol.

The party took place at the home of Harriet Falconer, the daughter of William A. Falconer. William, as it happens, was an early resident of Bismarck, and was very interested in history. The State Archives holds a collection of papers relating to his family, and some of his own research, which centered on George Armstrong Custer.

In the article about the bridal shower, the Bismarck Tribune wrote: “The Falconer home was artistically appointed in red hearts and clusters of red carnations. The evening was spent in hemming of towels and in other social diversions.

Marriage changed Miss Carpenter’s career path. She resigned from her job on April 1, with her marriage planned for June. Her replacement was quickly appointed, with Miss Edna Rupp, from Brooklyn, New York, taking over as the archive’s third librarian on May 1, 1917.

Rupp was a graduate of the Pratt Institute and had been a librarian in the Long Island Historical Institute for the past six years. In Bismarck, she joined up with various groups and activities, including the Library Club, which consisted of registered librarians in the city. In 1918, a social column mentioned that the group met at Miss Rupp’s apartment on Second Street, discussed local history, and did some knitting for the Red Cross.

Dakota Datebook by archivist Sarah Walker

Sources:

  • The Bismarck Tribune, March 17, 1917, p5
  • The Bismarck Tribune, March 26, 1917, p5
  • Prairie Trails to Hi-Ways, William A. Falconer, p329-330
  • The Bismarck Tribune, March 27, 1917, p5
  • Grand Forks Herald, April 11, 1917, p3
  • The Bismarck Tribune, May 1, 1917, p4
  • The Bismarck Tribune, June 16, 1917, p5
  • The Weekly Times-Record, July 12, 1917, p2
  • Grand Forks Herald, April 5, 1917, p5
  • The Bismarck Tribune, April 6, 1917, p1
  • The Bismarck Tribune, February 2, 1918, p5

Dakota Datebook is made in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and funded by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.