← Alberta Jean “Birdie” Wilkinson in the family tree

Birdie in the Papers

Alberta Jean “Birdie” Wilkinson (1930–2017), younger daughter of Albert and Helen Wilkinson, in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Advertiser, 1945–1960.

Newspapers.com finds 37 Hawaiʻi hits for “Birdie Wilkinson”. About a dozen of them are the same story printed in a second edition. All of them were read in the page viewer in October 2026. None is an advertisement: they are society columns, campus notes and photo captions. Together they trace a girl from Punahou fashion shows to a journalism degree and a run of jobs in Honolulu newspapers, radio and travel. The run ends in 1960, when she came home from Nevada with her Marine husband and two small sons.

Punahou and the University of Hawaiʻi, 1945–1948

27 October 1945. At 15 she was one of the models in a girlsone of the models in a Punahou girls’ club fashion showrsquo; club fashion show, listed as “Alberta (Birdie) Wilkinson.” Star-Bulletin, p. 2

December 1946. She was props chairman for the Theta Pi production of Death Takes a Holiday on the Punahou campus, directed by A. D. Breneman. Advertiser 2 Dec, p. 2; Star-Bulletin and Advertiser 12 Dec

20 April 1948. Secretary of a club of 35 students from Hawaiʻi, who were asking friends at home to send island flowers by 27 April. Star-Bulletin, p. 3

27 October 1948. In the University of Hawaii news column: “Alternates are Joan Flath and ‘Birdie’ Wilkinson” for the Rainbow cheering section’s song leaders. Star-Bulletin, p. 10

The University of Washington, 1949–1952

Birdie Wilkinson, 1949 portrait — Honolulu Advertiser, Sunday 23 October 1949, p. 24.

23 October 1949. Her portrait ran with the caption “Pledged Sorority.” She had pledged Delta Delta Delta at the University of Washington in Seattle, was majoring in journalism, and was a ’47 Punahou graduate.

8 September 1950. Home for the summer, she was among the “many college students” at a party for the American swimming team given at 940 Kealaolu Avenue. Star-Bulletin, p. 13

6 July 1952. She graduated from the University of Washington on 14 June with a B.A. in journalism, and stayed on for graduate study until August. Advertiser, p. 20

Working in Honolulu, 1953–1955

Faith Bradley and Birdie Wilkinson with a Star-Bulletin bus card, 1953 — Saturday Star-Bulletin, 5 September 1953, p. 10: “Faith Bradley and Birdie Wilkinson, Star-Bulletin staffers.” Birdie is on the right (identified by her nephew Craig Walsh).

5 September 1953. She was on the Star-Bulletin staff. With Faith Bradley she posed with the red-and-black bus cards announcing the new Saturday Star-Bulletin.

April–May 1954. A model in two fashion shows. The first was for the University of Hawaiʻi graduate section, with decorations by Hawaiian Island Flowers and Foliage Ltd. Advertiser 26 Apr, p. 8. At the second, “Mrs. Shirley Walsh was fashion commentator.” That was her sister. Star-Bulletin 11 May, p. 15

Birdie Wilkinson presents a lei to Dr. Henry Schmitz, 1954 — Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 July 1954, p. 9 (Camera Hawaii photo).

June–July 1954. Treasurer of the University of Washington alumni group in Hawaiʻi (Advertiser 22 Jun, p. 11). At the Pacific Club she presented a lei to the university’s president, Dr. Henry Schmitz.

6 April 1955. Her niece Shauna Elisa Walsh, daughter of Shirley and John Walsh, was born on Birdie’s 25th birthday. It was also the birthday of the baby’s great-grandmother, Lilly Wilkinson of 1259-B Center Street. The notice describes “her aunt, Birdie Wilkinson of the KGU promotion staff,” at KGU radio. Advertiser, p. 15

Birdie Wilkinson and Colleen Crabb, Muumuu Night winners, 1955 — Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Holiday section, 31 July 1955, p. 120 (Queen’s Surf photo).

31 July 1955. By midsummer she was “from the Matson Navigation travel desk in the Princess Kaiulani hotel.” She won first prize for her muumuu at the first Muumuu Night at Queen’s Surf.

Mrs. Neil Moore, 1956–1960

8 April 1956. A columnist’s note shows the wedding had already happened: “Regret having missed Birdie Wilkinson’s wedding.” Her husband was Neil Eugene Moore of Blair, Nebraska, an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Advertiser, p. 9

5 July 1958. Births: “Their second child, Matthew Brett, was born Wednesday at Kapiolani Maternity Hospital to Lieutenant and Mrs. Neil E. Moore.” He was stationed at Camp Pendleton and home on leave, and she was staying with her parents at 140 Dowsett Avenue. Star-Bulletin, p. 5

7 July 1960. Under the heading “From Nevada”, the Moores “have arrived from the Mainland to establish their permanent home here,” with Mark (3½) and Matt (2). The item continues:

She and her husband left Hawaii soon after their marriage five years ago. Recently they have been living in Sparks, Nevada. Mr. Moore will be assistant coach and teacher in some academic subjects at Iolani School.

Until they found a house they were to stay with her parents at 156 Dowsett Avenue. Star-Bulletin, p. 27

Not found in the viewer: three of the 37 hits (Hilo Tribune-Herald 11 Sep 1953 p. 8; Star-Bulletin 13 Nov 1953 p. 21 and 29 Apr 1954 p. 25). Compiled October 2026. See also Letters from Baba, in which Albert promised his six-month-old grandson in 1949 that “your Aunt Birdie will have her hand in all of our efforts.”