Ima Ripley Fann.

Last week, I was doing a little weeding (aren't we ALWAYS doing a little weeding around here?) and came across a couple of Ripley's Believe It or Not books. They were worse for wear -- some of the pages crumbled in my hand -- and had been in the collection for over 60 years. While it was time to say goodbye, this doesn't mean I didn't peruse them at length!

I've always liked Ripley's Believe It or Not, at least in part because I find the title so funny. "Believe it or not, we don't care." And growing up, I always lobbied for my dad to take my brother and me to the Ripley museum. Not only could you look at grody things like shrunken heads and chickens in jars (ok, I made that up), but next door was a wax museum! Who cares about Six Flags when you can see a wax figure of Marie Antoinette? Not this librarian-in-training, that's for sure.

As I admired the various illustrations in one of the Ripley's volumes I was considering discarding, I came this young lady with the most unfortunate name:



Sure, I thought. Ima June Bugg is a real person and all. Whatever you say, Ripley! And then I decided to investigate.

Lo and behold, Ima June Bugg is real! I found her marriage license on AncestryLibrary.com!



I then stifled the urge to fact check all the other items in the books. And despite their obvious worth, their sad state of disrepair made them prime candidates for the weeding truck. Farethewell, Ima June Bugg! We hardly knew ye.