Q : Q: My mother in law, Olga Walker nee Wickner (now deceased) worked for Disney in the late 1930s early 1940s. She graduated from UCLA about 1937 as an art major and reportedly joined Disney. She married in 1942 and may have continued to work for Disney until after the war? In her artist’s case is a sign she taped somewhere with the following: Olga Walker Inking and Painting Cor. 115 Desk 17 There are also small drawings of Snow White, some of the dwarfs and a folio (possibly from the opening?) of Pinocchio at Center Theatre February 7, 1940. She said she worked on all the Disney film of the era. Is there a record of her years as a Disney employee and of the films she would have worked on?
John, Campbell, California
A: According to Disney personnel records in the Archives, Olga Wickner worked in the Ink and Paint department from May 1939 to June 1944, when she resigned.
Q : Prior to the establishment of the Walt Disney Archives in 1970, what did the studio do to preserve the props, artifacts, and Disney-related historical items? Is there any indication that Walt thought about preserving his studio’s history? Thanks!
Kevin, Mount Washington, Kentucky
A: Before the Walt Disney Archives, individual company departments took care of their own history. The legal department, animation department, and Imagineering already had extensive collections, and they have kept them.  Other collections, from such departments as consumer products, music, film production, publicity and public relations, personnel, still photography, corporate administration, Buena Vista distribution, publications, and various departments at Disneyland formed the basis of the Archives.
Q : I am looking for information on a 19-inch Mickey Mouse figurine standing on a 10-inch white box. The under-structure is made of hollow black plastic tubing covered in a papier- mâché. The body is wearing a knitted light blue sweater and red mittens. The figure is animated and turns its head from left to right. There is also a Minnie figurine of the same materials that is standing apart from the other piece and is not animated. She is wearing a short green velvet tunic-like dress. There are no markings at all on either the figure or the box. The Illinois Railroad Museum received this as a bequest from a late member, and they would like to find its value so they can sell it to support the museum. Does this sound at all familiar to you?
Jan, Lakewood, Colorado
A: They do not sound familiar to me. It is possible that these could have been window display pieces, perhaps created by the store that displayed them.
Q : My girlfriend and I want to make a trip to pay tribute to each of the Seven Dwarfs. At least to the men who gave voices to such great Disney characters. We plan on leaving a figure of each Dwarf at their memorial. However we could not find the location of where Roy Atwell (the voice of Doc) is buried. Could you please help us find this? All the others are accounted for.
Kris, Glendale, Arizona
A: He died in 1962 in New York City, so it is possible that he is buried near there. Internet sites say his burial site is unknown.
Q : As the Muppets are now a part of the Disney family, I would love to know when Kermit the Frog spoke/wrote the following quotation so that I can use it in my wedding ceremony—“I really do believe that all of you are at the beginning of a wonderful journey. As you start traveling down the road of life, remember this: …never fly as cargo.”
Nikki, Edison, New Jersey
A: The quote is from a book, It’s Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider (New York, Hyperion, 2005), p. 132.
Q : I’m really sorry if you’ve answered this question many times before, but I want to work for the Disney Archives someday. I’m finishing up college; does the Archives look for any degree in particular or would any do? (For what it’s worth, my major is secondary education, English.)
Joseph, Nevada City, Nevada
A: There are rarely any job openings in the Walt Disney Archives because it is a small department, and those who work there tend to stay a long time. In recent years, they have hired staff with a number of different college majors.