MEDIA ADVISORY

The first of a series of Tuesday brown bag lunches in October celebrating pioneering women of Alaska will feature Wilma Rutherford, 69, one of the area's first African-American homesteaders.

Rutherford came to Alaska in 1952 from Virginia to join her husband Walter who was stationed with the U.S. Army anti-aircraft battalion at Ladd Field. She had been a member of the Women's Army Corps, but was forced by military policy of the time to leave the WACs when she became pregnant.

The Rutherfords received one of the last two veteran's homestead allotments in North Pole, and together with their children laid claim to 160 acres. She began employment with state of Alaska in 1964 and retired in 1987. She is now a full-time student pursuing a bachelor's degree at UAF.

Northern Studies graduate student Cal White, a local photographer and UAF photo department employee, is currently researching the experiences of pioneering African-American women in Alaska for his master's thesis. White will be on hand to introduce Rutherford who will share her experiences about life in Fairbanks nearly a half-century ago.

The brown bag lunch series is sponsored by UAF's Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Women's Studies Program. The public is invited to attend this free event at the Alumni Lounge in Constitution Hall.

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DPD/10-9-98/99-019ma