Alma Brunsell

ALMA BRUNSELL SUMNER was born May 9, 1890 at Union, near Evansville, Wisconsin, one of eight children born to Karl and Thea Brunsell. She spent her childhood and youth in that community. Upon completing high school she taught for a year or so in a rural school before entering the Library School of the University of Wisconsin.

Her training in library science led her to the position of director of the Price Hill Division of the Cincinnati Public Library. Later she became librarian at Wellington, Kansas.

In June of 1918 shewas united in marriage to William Sumner who before his death in 1960 was for 45 years professor of Agricultural Journalism at the University of Wisconsin.

Of this union were born three children, William of Evansville; Karl, and Katharine (Mrs. James Crowley) of Madison. Nine grandchildren and five sisters complete the circle of immediate survivors.

During the 20's and the 30's Mrs. Sumner gave talks on the radio station WHA about books. Her purpose was to encourage reading, particularly among the young. She was consulted by library committees reagrding the establishment and organization of libraries. Contacted by the committee of Stoughton, Wis. for some counsel, she ended up being their librarian for some 18 years. She also served on the Free Library Commission here in Madison.

In addition to her professional interests she maintained a home for her husband and three children, and participated in community and church activities for the enrichment of the community. Among the organizations which benefited from her involvement were: PTA, the Daughters of Demeter, the Dickens Fellowship, and Section VIII of the Women's Fellowship of First Church. Her membership in this church goes back almost 50 years, to 1920, when the congregation met on West Washington Avenue.

[From Memorial Service held at First Congregational Church, Madison, Wisconsin. Rev. Edward E. Beatty, Minister]