Newspaper Article Featuring Elbert Bede
Here is a newspaper article, written in 1933 by Elbert Bede where he say he has definitely established that Opal wrote a diary as a small child, and it was torn up. Elbert Bede was Opal’s strongest critic. However, here he says that two people, a man and a woman, saw Opal’s original diary written with crayons on scraps of paper. Some critics charge that Opal did not start keeping a diary until she was 12 or 14. Bede’s 1933 article is evidence she did keep a child’s diary.
BBC Radio 4 Show
Who Was Opal Whiteley? By Melanie McFadyean
with video images by Karen Rainsong
Listen to this documentary radio program and watch the video and pictures about Opal’s life.
Book Review: “Opal” By Katherine Beck
Reviwed by Steve Williamson
My opinion of this controversial book, including problems with research documentation. I give it two stars.
TV Show About Opal
Oregon’s Public Broadcasting presents an Oregon Experience program on Opal.
This is an excellent intro to her story.
Opal – The Award Winning Musical
Opal’s diary was also an award winning Broadway musical by Rob Lindsey-Nassif!
He knew Opal Whiteley and played her the songs from the musical.
Rob has devoted years of his life to preserving her memory.
Many Versions of Opal’s Book for Students
There are now at least 5 versions of Opal’s diary in print – an edition for all ages, including children. Click here to read more.
It has been translated into French, German and Chinese. Stephen Williamson wrote the introduction for the German and Chinese edition.
Opal’s Heroes: Fred Ure and Sons
Without Fred Ure there would have been no Opal Whiteley Memorial. Fred’s two sons, Doug & David also helped us build Opal Park, the sculpture garden and wildlife sanctuary. Then, these boys did something really special … helped stop a school shooting.
Read Steve McQuiddy’s Article on Opal
Steve has done a really good article on Opal. It’s a bit dated, written in 1997. We know a lot more about her today, but this is still an excellent, balanced article of Opal and the controversy of her best-selling diary by a respected Lane County author. It was also published in the Lane County Historian.