Midge Sherwood
Midge Sherwood, author and historian, received many honors for her books and articles on the American Frontier West. The National Council for History Education presented her with a certificate of appreciation for “outstanding contributions” to both school and society. Former California Governor Pete Wilson commended her work in “helping future generations have access to, and an appreciation for, our Golden State’s rich and splendid past.” Rotary International presented her with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Sherwood’s book series, Days of Vintage, Years of Vision is the first documented California history written as a family narrative, and it won the first double award for scholarship and “distinguished contributions” given by the Conference of California Historical Societies. The series chronicles the pioneer era of Senator Benjamin D. Wilson, the mayor of Los Angeles in 1851 and a California statesmen for whom Mt. Wilson is named, and his sons-in-law, George Smith Patton, Sr., a State political leader, and James De Barth Shorb, whose ranch is now the site of the world-famous Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Sherwood grew up in Ironton, Ohio, and graduated from the Journalism School of the University of Missouri. Inspired by a student interview with Amelia Earhart just before her fatal flight, Sherwood moved to Los Angeles and entered the field of aviation journalism. As the public relations director of Western Air Lines, she was the only woman in the nation to hold such a position. After marriage to the late Jack E. Sherwood, Midge turned to history and in 1973 enrolled as a research scholar at the Huntington Library.
Sherwood founded the San Marino Historical Society (1974), and the Huntington Westerners (1979), a branch of Westerners International. She was the founding editor of the monthly Western Journal, published by Huntington Westerners, and also wrote a newspaper column “History 101” on the American Frontier.
Sherwood’s book series, Days of Vintage, Years of Vision is the first documented California history written as a family narrative, and it won the first double award for scholarship and “distinguished contributions” given by the Conference of California Historical Societies. The series chronicles the pioneer era of Senator Benjamin D. Wilson, the mayor of Los Angeles in 1851 and a California statesmen for whom Mt. Wilson is named, and his sons-in-law, George Smith Patton, Sr., a State political leader, and James De Barth Shorb, whose ranch is now the site of the world-famous Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Sherwood grew up in Ironton, Ohio, and graduated from the Journalism School of the University of Missouri. Inspired by a student interview with Amelia Earhart just before her fatal flight, Sherwood moved to Los Angeles and entered the field of aviation journalism. As the public relations director of Western Air Lines, she was the only woman in the nation to hold such a position. After marriage to the late Jack E. Sherwood, Midge turned to history and in 1973 enrolled as a research scholar at the Huntington Library.
Sherwood founded the San Marino Historical Society (1974), and the Huntington Westerners (1979), a branch of Westerners International. She was the founding editor of the monthly Western Journal, published by Huntington Westerners, and also wrote a newspaper column “History 101” on the American Frontier.
