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Betsy Talbot Blackwell papers, 1925-1973 (bulk 1940-1971)

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Blackwell, Betsy Talbot
Title
Betsy Talbot Blackwell papers
Dates
1925-1973 (bulk 1940-1971) (inclusive)
Quantity
45.85 cubic ft. (47 boxes)
Collection Number
09073
Summary
Contains materials relating to the life and career of Betsy Talbot Blackwell, former editor-in-chief of Mademoiselle.
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
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
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Historical Note

Betsy Talbot Blackwell (1905-1985) was an editor for several women's fashion magazines. She was an assistant fashion editor at Charm magazine from 1923-1928 before becoming fashion editor at Mademoiselle magazine from its inception in 1935 and then editor-in-chief from 1937-1971. As an editor at Mademoiselle, Blackwell led and changed the industry by altering the magazine's focus to that of the young career woman. She instituted the annual practice of bringing in thirteen college women (including Sylvia Plath) to write and publish an issue each summer. She was also responsible for including a literary aspect in the magazine, publishing the works of authors such as Eudora Welty, Truman Capote, William Faulkner, and Joyce Carol Oates, among others. She was a recipient of the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1942, and was the first woman elected to the board of Street & Smith Publications in 1949. She married James Madison Blackwell III in 1930 and had one son and a stepdaughter.

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Content Description

Collection contains materials relating to Blackwell's career as editor for Mademoiselle magazine including extensive subject files and correspondence regarding editorial policy, advertising, public relations, circulation, format, fashion news, her "Editor's Memo" column, speeches, and scrapbook material.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

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 materials from this collection are available at https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~104~104.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

Additional information on Betsy Talbot Blackwell may be found in the Fashion Group International Records at the New York Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from James M. Blackwell IV in 1985.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in February 2011.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Fashion writing.
  • Periodicals -- Publishing -- United States.
  • Women in journalism -- United States.
  • Women's periodicals, American.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Scrapbooks.

Occupations

  • Editors.

Titles within the Collection

  • Mademoiselle.

Processed by Kathryn Brooks
2011

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

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