Angelina ZENI ( - )

1 Angelina E. ZENI^1,2,3,4 ( - ) [8242].

Mistakenly shown as Alice E. in the 1930 NV, Washoe, Reno census.

From the Nevada State Journal.

May 9, 1952 - "Women Voters Invited To Visit Adult Class In Americanization. Francis Lynch, director of adult education for Reno, has invited members of the League of Women Voters to attend an Americanization class to be held Monday evening, at 7:15, room A-114 in the new Reno High School.
This will be a typical class conducted for the foreign-born people. Its purpose is to prepare these people for their citizenship examination.
Mrs. Angelina Birks will conduct the class as she has for the last 20 years. Approximately 1,000 people, from this area, have gained citizenship through her untiring efforts."

From the Reno Evening Gazette.

November 22, 1960 - "Teacher Wins Medal From Valley Forge. Mrs. Angelina Birks, elementary school teacher at Orvis Ring School in Reno, has been awarded a Valley Forge Classroom Teacher's Medal for her professional contribution toward maintaining our American Constitutional Republic, according to word received here recently from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
Mrs. Birks' work in behalf of responsible, patriotic citizenship and the American way of life was singled out by the Freedom Foundation's award jury for recognition as the result of her name being placed in nomination by Miss Grace Warner, principal, Orvis Ring School; Miss Valentine Olds and Miss Kathryn Clark, Orvis Ring instructors; and Mr. John Ceseria, adult distributive education coordinator for the Washoe County School System.
The nomination by Miss Warner emphasizes Mrs. Birk's work with young people as follows.
"Mrs Angelina Birks has contributed much in the first lessons of democracy. Her classroom is organized for democratic procedures and every child feels he is a vital part of group participation and group leadership."
"Children in her classroom feel secure and happy, all enjoying freedom but not abusing the privileges of this freedom.
"Students who are to live in a democracy must participate in democratic procedures in our schools and practice thinking of the rights and respect of others."
Miss Olds, in her nomination, gives added emphasis to this same contribution by Mrs. Birks.
"In Orvis Ring there are children of all races and color - Indians, Negroes, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and all other nationalities which make up our American citizens. Every child has the same opportunity in her class to express himself and participate in classroom activities. No child is ever pushed aside.
"Mrs. Birks conducts her classroom on a democratic basis, with freedom and justice for every child."
Presentation of the Freedoms Foundation medal and citation will be made to Mrs. Briks by Proctor Hug, superintendent of Washoe county school system, in a special ceremony to be announced later.".

Sources

1	"Obituary of William F. Birks in the Reno Evening Gazette, July 9, 1977".

2	"1930 NV, Washoe, Reno census".

3	"Reno eligible voter lists published in the Reno Evening Gazette".

4	"Marriage license announcement for William F. Birks and Angelina E. Zeni in the Reno evening Gazette, December 30, 1921".