Vertical File Biographies

This is an individual biography from the vertical file of biographical information, primarily newspaper clippings, created by the Kansas State Histocial Society Library and Archives division. This is a concise version--there may be more information in this or other sources.

Nola V. Wales

Nola Wales was a rare person in 1919 as a woman managing a national advertising company in Topeka, Kansas. It was through unfortunate circumstances that she found herself in that position. Her husband had started the business and operated it successfully for several years before becoming a victim of the influenza epidemic that spread throughout the world that year. Mrs. Wales was left with two young sons and a one-person business operated out of her home.

Fortunately, she had helped her husband with the business and was familiar with what had to be done. Almost all of the businesses activities were conducted by mail, which was very fortunate as most business managers of the day were reluctant to deal with a woman. Most of her mail was addressed to “N. V. Wales.”
The business started out preparing advertising copy for businesses in national periodicals, but soon expanded to local and direct mailings and radio advertising. It expanded into a very substantial operation with many employees and office space outside of her home.

Mrs. Wales enjoyed the challenges of operating an advertising business. She had to learn about her client’s products and services and then prepare the right copy and place it in the right media so sales would be maximized. There was also the excitement of insuring that all aspects of an advertising campaign were correct and everything got out on time.

Nola Wales prided herself on never working overtime, for she had decided that the business would never take time away from raising her boys. Business activities could always wait, although she was a well organized person and understood what had to be done before making any commitments.

Sources:
“Topeka Woman Makes a Huge Success in Five Years of Divided Career,” Topeka Journal, 5 April 1924.
“Mrs. Nola Wales,” Topeka Journal, 12 December 1936.

The vertical file is on forty-three microfilm reels arranged alphabetically by name. These reels are available through interlibrary loan, or you may contact the reference staff . Please note that many of the clippings had yellowed and it may be impossible to produce a readable photocopy.

Completion of this biography was made possible by volunteer Frank Sotrines.