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Carol Paterson as Dr. Mary Dunlap, Civic Leader

PHOTO AVAILABLE SUMMER 2007

            From the very first Founder’s Day event in 1997, Carol Paterson has been a proud participant in the celebration of Vineland ’s history through her involvement in the Woman’s Club of Vineland.  Notable citizens of Vineland history were needed as characters for re-enactments, making the people and events of hometown history come alive.  When asked to participate in Founder’s Day as president of the Woman’s Club of Vineland representing the Woman’s Club of Vineland, Carol could think of no better prominent woman in Vineland history to portray than the accomplished and highly respected Dr. Mary J. Dunlap.

Dr. Dunlap gained international distinction as the first female superintendent of the Vineland Developmental Center .  She would continue to set herself apart as a woman of firsts as the first president of the Woman’s Club of Vineland and being in the position as president when the Woman’s Club first founded the Vineland Public Library.  Her civic leadership and philanthropic lifestyle, coupled with her intelligence and the lasting legacies she has left Vineland in these three century old Vineland institutions, maintains for her a lasting place as one of Vineland ’s true “first ladies.”

            Carl Paterson takes great joy in sharing the many accomplishments of Dr. Dunlap with the community.  “I enjoy being a part of something I feel is important and especially being with the members of the Friends of Historic Vineland.”  She says, “I also like teaching history to the school children.”  This, she is well qualified to do in her service as the current Historian of the Woman’s Club of Vineland, a club whose members raise over $100,000 a year to be donated to charitable causes.

            At Founder’s Day, Carol shares an exhibition tent with a number of other women from the Woman’s Club of Vineland representing other prominent 19^th century women who made headlines in their day for women’s rights and dress reform.  However, Carol’s portion of the display focuses on Dr. Mary J. Dunlap and the history of the Woman’s Club of Vineland and the Vineland State School .

Shirley Burke as Susan Fowler, Women’s Rights

PHOTO AVAILABLE SUMMER 2007

            Throughout the years, Shirley Burke has had her photograph and name in the newspaper portraying various theatrical characters due to her lifelong activities in community theatre.  Since joining the Friends of Historic Vineland two years ago, Shirley continues to make headlines – in her portrayal of Vineland ’s own sensational suffragette, Susan Pecker Fowler.

            Susan Fowler was an outspoken 19^th century woman in social activism on such topics as women’s rights, taxation without representation – votes for women – and dress reform.  She shocked Vineland residents in her day parading down Landis Avenue in a tunic and bloomers or trousers – not becoming to a lady of the time.  Through her efforts, nationally known suffrage speakers such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton visited Vineland and held rallies. “The more I learned of her,” says Burke, “the more I believe she was a real character in her time.”  Shirley jumped right into her own form of activism – enthusiastic community service with the Friends of Historic Vineland and Committee Chair for the Vineland Downtown Improvement District/Main Street . 

            Packing her activities with the Friends and Main Street in alongside of her work as a theatrical director and free-lance actress – Shirley keeps busy in many of the Victorian theatricals in historic Cape May – and her hobbies of travel, languages, and gardening, she continues to expand her community service ventures as a member of the Woman’s Club of Vineland.

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