Michael, Moina Belle, 1869-1944

"McCrae's poem had a huge impact on two women, Anna E. Guerin of France and Georgia native Moina Michael. Both worked hard to initiate the sale of artificial poppies to help orphans and others left destitute by the war." -- "The Flower of Remembrance." United States Department of Veterans Affairs. http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/flower.asp (Retrieved October 6, 2009)

"A commemorative stamp honoring Moina B. Michael, a Walton County [Georgia] native and the founder of Poppy Day, was first issued in November 1948. Beginning around 1915, paper poppies were sold and worn on Memorial Day in both the United States and Europe to raise money for the rehabilitation of soldiers wounded in combat." - "Walton County." New Georgia Encyclopedia. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org (Retrieved September 16, 2008)

Mary B. Poppenheim was president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

From the description of Moina Belle Michael papers, 1918-1940. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 460736200

Moina B. Michael was a World War I YMCA relief worker who proposed the poppy as an emblem for remembrance of those who died in the war. Profits from the sales of poppy items were used to assist disabled veterans.

Born near Good Hope, GA, the daughter of John M. and Alice Wise Michael, Moina studied at Martin Institute in Jefferson, GA, and began a teaching career at 16 that culminated in 1912 as Lady Principal at Bessie Tift College. During this period she educated herself at Lucy Cobb Institute and the State Normal School in Athens, GA. In 1912-1913 she spent a year at Columbia University in NYC, NY. During the last decades of her life she was the Social and Religious Director at the Georgia Normal School, later the Georgia State Teachers College.

During World War I, Moina Michael worked with the American Committee, the YMCA, and the Red Cross, a chapter of which she established at the Teachers College in Athens, GA. In the 1930's she wrote a book, THE MIRACLE FLOWER, which was published in 1941.

From the description of Moina Belle Michael Collection, 1911-1964 (bulk 1918-1944). (Georgia Department of Archives and History Library). WorldCat record id: 145567403

Moina B. Michael was a World War I YMCA relief worker who proposed the poppy as an emblem for remembrance of those who died in the war. Profits from the sales of poppy items were used to assist disabled veterans.

Born near Good Hope, GA, the daughter of John M. and Alice Wise Michael, Moina studied at Martin Institute in Jefferson, GA, and began a teaching career at 16 that culminated in 1912 as Lady Principal at Bessie Tift College. During this period she educated herself at Lucy Cobb Institute and the State Normal School in Athens, GA. In 1912-1913 she spent a year at Columbia University in NYC, NY. During the last decades of her life she was the Social and Religious Director at the Georgia Normal School, later the Georgia State Teachers College.

During World War I, Moina Michael worked with the American Committee, the YMCA, and the Red Cross, a chapter of which she established at the Teachers College in Athens, GA. In the 1930's she wrote a book, THE MIRACLE FLOWER, which was published in 1941.

From the description of Moina Belle Michael Collection, 1911-1964 (bulk 1918-1944). (Georgia Department of Archives and History Library). WorldCat record id: 38475710