Born Violetta (Letty) Goff Maloney, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, she was instrumental in the development of university folklore collections in Canada.
"[3] She rose to the rank of Lieutenant and saw active duty as both a Supply Officer and in Recruitment until 1945, remaining in the Reserves until her honourable discharge in 1951.
[1] Halpert studied English at Wilson College in Pennsylvania and did a masters degree in folk literature at Indiana University in Bloomington.
This explains why many of his articles and books were co-authored or received editorial attention from a colleague or from his wife, Violetta Maloney Halpert.
[13] She was memorialized for "her sharp intellect, sense of humor, and indomitable will"[1] and is remembered for her contributions as a collector of "the 'lore'—the knowledges and wisdoms—of local and regional societies.