Between the Covers

Softcover. Oblong small octavo. Measuring 8.5" x 6.5". Prong-bound green wrappers with gilt stamped flowers on the front wrapper and handwritten "Les Courmettes 1949." A collection of 101 black and white and sepia toned photographs measuring 2.5" x 3.5" affixed to white pages and interspersed throughout with a diary of the trip. Very good with some tears and creasing on the wrappers. A diary augmented with snapshots and postcards from a Camp Fire Girls trip to Les Courmettes, France from July 23 until August 10, 1949. The trip is fairly early on in the tenure of the British Association which began in 1921 after the success of the American organization. The detailed journal and photographs provide a complete account of the travels of the girls from the point of view of Eda Banham, one of the young troop leaders with the group. Before leaving the girls saw *Oklahoma* at Drury Lane which Eda thought was "very futuristic and essentially American but a very good show." After making the crossing, they began their travels on a train to Paris, seeing all the sights of the cities including the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame after which they were on their way to the South of France. Once there the girls set up an encampment, seen here in some snapshots. Eda writes, "at 9 pm we all gathered on the terrace with the international campers to partake in a camp fire... the French did not care to speak to us in English though we were quite aware that they spoke English better than we could speak French." The photos show the beauty of the South of France as well as girls posing in group photos in uniform, hiking, and performing plays for local children. "It was a party for the colony and we had been asked to entertain. The Rangers were worried and felt shy about performing." Towards the final days the photos are of happily laughing girls, shirtless men, and one particularly interesting photo of the troop hanging out of a jeep traveling along a dirt road in the woods. A wonderful assemblage relaying a complete look at Eda's trip.

Item #395716