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Toni Stabile papers, 1933-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stabile, Toni
Title
Toni Stabile papers
Dates
1933-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
25.05 cubic ft. (55 boxes)
Collection Number
10050
Summary
Toni Stabile was an American freelance writer and investigative journalist best known for her writings on the cosmetic industry and cosmetic safety. This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, and research files from the author.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Toni Stabile (Antoinette D.), born and raised in New York, is the author of three books, a free-lance writer, and an investigative journalist. She is a well-known advocate of cosmetic safety, and has been dubbed "the Ralph Nader of the cosmetics industry".

She received an A.B. in journalism from the University of Kentucky and did graduate work at Columbia University. Her involvement with cosmetics began when she was an undergraduate writing a weekly fashion and beauty column. In the 1950's she began her own independent research on the validity of cosmetic claims.

Her book, Cosmetics: Trick or Treat? (1966) prompted the first congressional hearings on cosmetic safety in over 20 years. It and the updated editions, Cosmetics: The Great American Skin Game (1973, 1979), paved the way for cosmetic ingredient listing on labels and inspired regulatory and industry reforms. She testified as an expert witness before U.S. House and Senate committee hearings on product safety bills in 1971, 1972, and 1974. She received the Franny Award for Service to the Consumer from WPIX TV in 1974.

Toni Stabile's third book, Everything You Want to Know About Cosmetics, was published in 1984. Her articles have appeared in Nation, Redbook, The Saturday Evening Post, Today's Health, Travel Agent, and other national and international magazines.

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Content Description

The Toni Stabile papers, 1933-1987, include correspondence, drafts of manuscripts, research and promotional material for her books, annotated copies of her books, published articles, documents related to a lawsuit, and audio/visual materials. The collection provides evidence of the failure of both the cosmetic industry and the government agencies charged with consumer protection to safeguard the consumer from products containing hazardous and potentially harmful substances.

While there are manuscripts for many of Stabile's articles, the bulk of the manuscript material are drafts, galleys, and corrections to Stabile's three books: Cosmetics: The Great American Skin Game, Cosmetics: Trick of Treat?, and Everything You Want to Know About Cosmetics.

The research files, 1933-1989, contain valuable information on the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, drug and cosmetic labeling regulations, congressional hearings on product safety, injuries caused by cosmetics, the activities of the Toiletry Goods Association, Inc. (now the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc.), cosmetic marketing strategies, deceptive or misleading product claims and the functioning of the Federal Drug Administration, The Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Protection Agency.

The correspondence, 1959-1987, provides information on how Toni Stabile researched cosmetic safety, her professional activities, the problems associated with getting a manuscript published, and how books are promoted.

The collection also contains some personal correspondence and information on Toni Stabile’s early career and writings, biographical information, documents regarding the lawsuit initiated by Toni Stabile against Chesebrough-Pond’s for unauthorized use of her Reader’s Digest article “The Outrageous Cost of Facial Beauty,” and many audio and video tapes of interviews and promotional appearances regarding cosmetic cost and safety issues.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

Copyrights are retained by donor. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~86~86.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections related to Toni Stabile.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The Toni Stabile papers, 1933-1989, were given to the American Heritage Center by Toni Stabile in six shipments, one in 1980, three in 1985, one in 1989 and one in 1990. An addition to the collection was received from Toni Stabile in three shipments in 1992 and 1999.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Ben Goldman in June 2011.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

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Subject Terms

  • Consumer protection--United States.
  • Cosmetics industry--United States.
  • Cosmetics--Safety measures.
  • Investigative reporting.
  • Journalists
  • Women -- Health and hygiene -- United States.

Processed by Ben Goldman
2011

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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