Ann Elizabeth Alt stands in front of some of the
books that she donated to the
Vande Bogart Library.

  Ann Elizabeth Alt, a 1939 graduate of Northern, has generously donated her personal book collection to Northern's Vande Bogart Library. Estimated at 2,000 volumes, this collection represents Ann's lifelong commitment to reading. Although primarily focused on World War II, the collection also spans the decades and includes books on World War 1, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict. It greatly expands the Library's holdings in an area that is popular with students as well as armchair historians within the University and the community of Havre.

After graduating from college, like many of her generation, Ann responded to her patriotic duty and enlisted in the Women's Army Corps as a first lieutenant in 1943. She was stationed in the Chemical Warfare Division in Huntsville, Alabama. Unlike most women of her generation, however, after the war she stayed in the Army Reserve. With the help of the GI Bill, she earned her Masters of Business at the University of Colorado. She returned to active duty in 1951 and remained in the armed forces until her retirement in 1970 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She served as an accountant in the Army on several overseas and stateside assignments.

As a woman officer in a "man's army," she experienced discrimination and felt that she had to work twice as hard to achieve her success. From her experience she became a champion of women's right to succeed in non traditional occupations. Fueled by her life long love of reading, Ann built her collection of military books including the memoirs and diaries of women who also served in World War II. Her gift to the Library is a lasting tribute to her devotion to her country and an inspiration to women who follow in her footsteps.