Bertha McGhee - Missionary from Kansas
Ranked #6,081 in Culture & Society, #124,556 overall
Bertha McGhee - A Dedicated Woman
Bertha McGhee devoted her life to good works for the church. Tyro, Kansas was her hometown. She was my mother's aunt (my great-aunt).
Her life spanned the years 1903 to 1999. She was 96 when she died on Tuesday, November 30, 1999, at the Baldwin Care Center, Baldwin City, KS.
Early in her life, Bertha felt a calling to serve the church and dedicated her life to working in Indian schools and orphanages. She started new churches in isolated areas of Alaska. After retirement, she returned to Kansas. She never married.
I plan to start on a self-published book about Bertha McGhee's life (after finishing my dad's). If you have any memories of her, please contact me.
Contents at a Glance
Bertha and Lealon McGhee are in this Tyro KS school photo
I believe Bertha is the girl on the end of the front row.
1918 Flu Epidemic
in the words of Bertha McGhee of Tyro, Kansas
Three years later, Tyro High was opened again and I went back as a sophomore and graduated in 1924 at age 21.
The summer before Tyro H.S. reopened, the church gave Roy and me a week at Epworth League Institute at Baldwin. That was the turning point for me. I felt called to go back to school and prepare for full time service through the church to be a home missionary -- my particular concern -- Native Americans."
(photo of troops parading in Independence, Kansas in 1918 - from the family collection of Gail Lee Martin, not for use without permission)
Bertha McGhee's Memories
of the NYA (National Youth Administration) in 1937
- Memories of the Great Depression by Bertha McGhee
- "One of my memories of the great depression years was my job teaching at an NYA (National Youth Administration) camp on the grounds of a former country club near Zara, Kansas. We opened in the winter with around 20 girls housed in the club house. Staff were housed there also. These were girls who had dropped out of school-in their teens because they couldn't afford to attend."
To read more, click on the link above.
Bertha McGhee in NYA Photo
The NYA was at Zara, Kansas.
Bertha is in the center, back row, next to the girl in the letter jacket.
Eleanor Roosevelt Was an Advocate for the NYA
Photo from the Kansas City Star April 18, 1937
- Eleanor Roosevelt's My Day column for Nov. 16, 1936
- She visited the NYA camp at Zarah where Bertha McGhee was.
Gathering Lots of Information
My mom, Gail Lee Martin, gave me Bertha's letters covering the years 1940 to 1983. She also had Bertha's photo album of 1929 to 1931 in the southwest. My cousin Tim was recently in Alaska and took photos of the Jessie Lee Home.
Bertha's First Mission Experience
A Photo Gallery of Bertha McGhee and Her Family
Click on each photo to see it larger and to read the caption
The Indian school in Farmington, NM where Bertha McGhee taught.
Bertha McGhee
Pastor of Church in Hope, Alaska
This is the photo that may be used for the book cover.
Mentions of Bertha McGhee on the Internet
- An Alaskan Blog
- Former Seward Resident
May 13, 1973
Seward Phoenix Log
The friends of Miss Bertha McGhee, a former resident of Seward, will be interested to know that she plans to leave Alaska in July to make her home in Kansas.
The Women's Society of Christian Service of the Anchor Park Methodist Church of Anchorage invites all friends of Miss McGhee to attend a tea on Sunday, May 16, from 2:00 to 5 p.m. honoring her for her many years of service as a missionary.
(to read more, click on the link above)
The Journal Kept by Bertha McGhee
This section covers the war years
Read about Bertha's early life
Preview the book, My Flint Hills Childhood
- My Flint Hills Childhood on Blurb.com
- A section of the book is available for preview at the site.
Gail Martin's Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPlaces Where Bertha McGhee Lived and Worked
Google Maps
Bertha McGhee with her brother Roy McGhee. Return from fishing.
Collecting Family Memories of Bertha McGhee
My mom has been busy contacting family that knew Bertha or heard stories about her life.
Cheryl (Austin's daughter)
More Lenses Related to Bertha and Her Family
Gail Lee Martin was Bertha's niece.
Abraham Bates Tower was Bertha's grandfather.
Old Photo of the Jesse Lee Home
Jesse Lee Home in Anchorage, Alaska
Click on any photo to see it larger and to read the caption
Plaque at the Jesse Lee Home (2010)
Bertha McGhee Taught a Sunday School Class
"August 29, 2010 - I have memories of Bertha being my Sunday-school teacher in the 1950s. She was absolutely wonderful; always friendly, smiling, and outgoing. I was a young Alaska native youngster, attending the Methodist church in Seward. My very first Bible was given to me by Bertha in 1957, and it has her signature. I still have that Bible; worn, but still usable. My mother grew up in the Jesse Lee Home, which still stands today, but is sadly in need of repair."
Marshall Ronne Jr
Seward, Ak
Alaskan Missionaries (Books on Amazon)
This Photo Is from Sitka
but I can imagine my great-aunt in such a scene
Did You Know Bertha McGhee?
Bertha by lollypopgirrrl
More Bertha Stickers available from Zazzle
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Pukeko
Jan 11, 2011 @ 5:00 am | delete
- Thanks for introducing me to Bertha.
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wordstock
Jan 10, 2011 @ 7:01 pm | delete
- How great to have all this information. The pictures are wonderful too. Can't wait to read the entire story.
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darciefrench
Jan 10, 2011 @ 6:14 pm | delete
- I loved reading about Bertha McGhee's life and work with Native Indians- beautiful tribute to a lovely lady.
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dustytoes
Jan 10, 2011 @ 5:08 pm | delete
- I have a feeling that Bertha would be thrilled to know what you are doing to keep her memory alive. What an amazing woman. All these old photos are wonderful and I really like the one for the book cover.
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Chinajoy
Dec 23, 2010 @ 2:58 am | delete
- Great lens. I loved reading about her.
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A Worthy Cause
The Global Youth Village brings together teenagers from the U.S. and more than 90 countries, and teaches them practical ways to create change in their world.
by vallain
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