Alma Overholt

Quick Facts

Significance:

Magazine & Newspaper Writer, Wrote some of the most prominent articles on DEVA that drew tourists into the region, Tourism in DEVA, Women Writers of DEVA

Place of Birth:

Switzerland

Date of Birth:

01/11/1889

Date of Death:

1972

Alma Overholt was born in Switzerland in 1889. Her records state that she became a naturalized American citizen through marriage in 1908. Her and her family moved to Southern California in 1919. She quickly established herself in America by managing the opening publicity for the Catherine Hotel on Santa Catalina Island. After her success with the event, she ended up in charge of the publicity department of the Santa Cataline Island Company until the onset of World War II. Her communication skills were so good that archaeologist Ralph Glidden hired her as his personal publicist; she elevated his name until the Boston Globe called him “the famous archaeologist Ralph Glidden.” 

Overholt's mastery of travel writing was quickly noted by Mr. H.W. Eichbaum and he hired her to promote the hospitality of Death Valley and his resort at Stovepipe Wells. She published many pieces on her experiences navigating the region, including in Travel magazine, calling Death Valley "California's most unique playground." Over the years, Overholt wrote many articles on Death Valley and is one of the people credited with improving public perceptions of the region. 

Her son Ted Sierks was rescued in 1951, and her joy at hearing he was rescued alive is captured in a series of photographs in the Los Angeles Examiner Collection.