Born: 1911, United States
Died: 26 August 1989
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Elizabeth French
The following is republished from the National Park Service. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Elizabeth “Betty” Budlong
Southwestern Monuments
HCWP, 1934-1941
• Born Elizabeth French in 1911 at New Rochelle, New York.
• Married Robert Budlong on November 15, 1934 in the desert east of Florence, Arizona.
• Was an “Honorary Custodian Without Pay” (HCWP), a title given to unpaid wives working in the Southwestern Monuments.
• Stationed with Budlong at Canyon de Chelly and El Morro National Monuments where she registered, directed, and entertained visitors.
• Published articles on Navajo ceremonies and dwellings.
• Wrote magazine articles for Today’s Woman on the trials of living in the remote wilderness.
• Established and ran the El Morro Women’s Club and a new local public library, providing books to people in isolated communities.
• Divorced Budlong in 1941.
• Little is known about her after the divorce except that she received an R.N. degree, a federal scholarship, and attended the University of Oregon Medical School for public health nursing.
• Died on August 26, 1989.
The following is republished from the National Park Service. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Wives also strengthened NPS relations with communities outside their parks. With book donations received from across the NPS, Betty Budlong developed and managed a community library at El Morro National Monument. By 1942, the library had 2,000 volumes. Ten schools and six other communities used the library. Of course, she did this in addition to her “usual” unpaid duties as a HCWP, which included guiding parties visiting the monument. In May 1937, she acted as an HRWP one day per week to cover tours during her husband’s absence. In December 1940, she even submitted the monument’s monthly report as her husband “has gone East on annual leave.” Left behind, Betty and a relief ranger managed a busy month in his absence. The comment inserted into the monthly report after her summary was “That’s pretty fine, Betty! What do we need with a custodian when the custodian has a wife like YOU?”
The December 1936 monthly report for El Morro National Monument shows just how difficult things could get. Custodian Robert Budlong described a harrowing situation he and his wife Betty dealt with when a promised government pickup truck didn’t arrive. They had no transportation as their own car was in a repair shop 45 miles way. “We anxiously awaited each mail day, hoping for word that the new pickup was awaiting us in Gallup. . . Our food supply gradually dwindled, and finally, when we received word on December 12 that the new pickup could not be delivered in Gallup until December 29, we found our food supply consisting of half a sack of flour and two cans of pineapple, plus some Christmas cookies.” Budlong was able to get a ride to his car but the repair failed, and it was three days before he got back to Betty with supplies. He noted that he “reached El Morro, to find that the HCWP had existed on Christmas cookies during my absence. We promptly celebrated the occasion by consuming a huge steak and a variety of fresh vegetables. I think the HCWP has lost her appetite for Christmas cookies for some time to come.”