Volunteer Spotlight: Betty Ferguson

Betty Fergusonhas literally seen them come and go. In her 24 years with the Library and Archives at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, she has served six Executive Directors and four Librarians, has participating in many changes in the museum's collection storage. As a result, she really knows where things are located, and takes a long view of things.

Betty came to the museum in 1983, arriving in conjunction with the Ryan Historical Library Collection, previously donated by Mrs. Ryan and housed at the Ryan facilities. At that time, many Ryan aircraft were still in operating condition, and owners would contact Betty for documentation, as she was in charge of correspondence – and, one would assume, blueprints. "Quite a few folks who picked up Ryan planes would come to us for copies of plans."

Her aviation background is rather colorful, too. Her husband was an aviator - she was a Navy Wife for 25 years - and her "Uncle Marc" was Admiral Marc Mitscher of "Marianas Turkey Shoot" fame. "I was an only child in two families, and spent a great deal of time with the Mitschers in Coronado and Long Beach - I was [considered] their daughter too! I was honored to christen the second USS Mitscher, a DDG from Norfolk still on active duty, about ten years ago."

Having lived with so much aviation history, Betty jumped at the chance to work for Ryan when her friends talked her out of her job at a dress shop. At the San Diego Aerospace Museum, her job soon converted to a volunteer position - and since then, she has never looked back. The years have brought some sadness - including the loss of former Director Ed McKellar and museum friends Zeke Cormier and Bill Immenschuh - but she fondly remembers the pleasant times. "I can remember being introduced to a couple of spacemen - including Wally Schirra - and I remember one incident when Prince Andrew was touring around, separated from the group and gave me a wonderful smile."

Betty has no plans to retire, and notes that the Library should remain a draw for a new generation of researchers and students. "I think there's a lot for young people to be interested in at the Museum– tell 'em to come up and do some research on some of the planes that are down on the floor!"