AHJ_ah09073 Inventory of the Betsy Talbot Blackwell papers, 1925-1973 Blackwell (Betsy Talbot) papers Processed by Kathryn Brooks 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. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:https://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2011

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Kathryn Brooks February 2011 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Blackwell, Betsy Talbot Betsy Talbot Blackwell papers 1925-1973 (bulk 1940-1971) 09073 45.85 cubic ft. (47 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Contains materials relating to the life and career of Betsy Talbot Blackwell, former editor-in-chief of Mademoiselle. Biography of Betsy Talbot Blackwell

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.

 Scope and Content

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.

 Access Restrictions

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

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 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

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

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in February 2011.

 Preferred Citation

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

 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.

 Access Terms Women's periodicals, American. Women in journalism -- United States. Periodicals -- Publishing -- United States. Fashion writing. Scrapbooks. Editors. Mademoiselle. Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Publishers and Publishing Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Journalism Social Life and Customs People, Ethnicity, and Culture Women Container List Series I. Correspondence

The correspondence files pertain to daily business at Mademoiselle and include notes and memoranda for promotions, personnel, public relations, expenses, itineraries, consumer research, and job descriptions, as well as correspondence relating to personal matters outside Mademoiselle.

 1 Correspondence 1937-1971 2 Correspondence 1940-1973 3 Correspondence 1937-1964 4 Correspondence 1940-1970 5 Correspondence 1938-1961 6 Correspondence 1941-1962 7 Correspondence 1961-1966 8 Correspondence 1966-1967 9 Correspondence 1967 10 Correspondence 1967-1968 11 Correspondence 1968 12 Correspondence 1967-1971 13 Correspondence 1962-1971 14 Correspondence 1966-1967 15 Correspondence 1967 16 Correspondence 1939-1971 17 Correspondence 1941-1971 18 Correspondence 1947-1971 19 Correspondence 1959-1971 Series II. Mademoiselle work

This series documents Blackwell's work at Mademoiselle and includes materials for her monthly column "Editor's Memo," as well as other business such as advertising, circulation, speeches, and work as a member of the Street & Smith Publications Inc. Board of Directors.

 42 Advertising campaigns 1949-1954 43 Advertising campaigns 1955-1956 44 Advertising campaigns 1957-1958, 1969 44 Book: 40 best stories from Mademoiselle, 1935-1960 1960 20 4-7 Manuscript: Careers in Magazines 1965 20 1-3 Manuscript: Mademoiselle - A Publication Portrait 1944-1965 20 Speeches 1951-1966 20 8 International Business Machines 1961 20 9 Fragrance Foundation Seminar 1964 20 10 Washington Fashion Group - Suburbia The New Challenge 1955 20 11 St. Louis Fashion Group 1960 20 12 Philadelphia Fashion Group - Slide Rule Sizes 1953 20 13 New York Dress Designers Luncheon - Paris Fashion Talk 1959 20 14 Miami Fashion Group 1958 20 15 Millinery - Los Angeles Fashion Group 1956 20 16 Detroit Fashion Group 1962 20 17 Fashion Group Remarks 1962 20 18 General Foods - Changing Women And The Need To Grow With Them 1952 20 19 Chicago Fashion Group - The Dollars and Cents Of Fashion Magazine 1951 20 20 Fashion Group Talk 1952 20 21 Fashion Group 1961 20 22 Fashion Group Luncheon 1962 20 23 Junior Women's Advertising Club 1962 20 24 Hollywood's Women's Press Club 1960 20 25 Heart of Fashion 1952 20 26 Los Angeles Talk 1959 20 27 Lake Erie College 1968 20 28 Laboratory Institute of Fashion Merchandising Graduation 1962 20 29 New York City Ready - To - Wear Fashion Group 1959 20 30 Millinery Fashion Group Luncheon 1956 20 31 Fabric Fashion Group Luncheon 1962 20 32 Los Angeles Fashion Group 1962 20 33 Kansas City Fashion Group - Paris Fashion Talk 1959 20 34 Jinx TV Show 1956 20 35 Japanese Silk Association 1966 20 36 Guest Editor's Welcome 1962-1964 21 Speeches 1942-1970 22 Speeches 1950-1970 17 Subject file: Circulation 1962-1969 23 Subject file: Editorial folder 1961-1967 24 Subject file: Editorial folder 1967-1971 25 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1960, 1966 26 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1966 27 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1966 28 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1967 29 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1967 30 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1967-1968 31 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1968 32 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1968 33 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1968-1969 34 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1969 35 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1969 36 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1970 37 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1970 38 Subject file: Editor's Memo 1970-1971 17 Subject file: Expenses - Lucette Caron 1962-1970 17 Subject file: Expenses - petty cash vouchers 1966-1971 19 Subject file: Financial records - 1170 Fifth Avenue Corporation 1959-1967 19 Subject file: Insurance 1941-1962 17 Subject file: Questionnaire 1961 17 Subject file: Spotlight column 1955 18 Subject file: Street & Smith Publications Inc. Board of Directors special meetings minutes 1955-1960 18 Subject file: Street & Smith Publications Inc. profit and loss statements 1948-1958 17 Subject file: Survey 1948-1950, 1956 Series III. Personal

Contains biographical material on Blackwell and her husband, photographs, awards, certificates, honors, and miscellaneous programs and notes Blackwell saved as keepsakes.

 1 1 Biographical file: Betsy Talbot Blackwell circa 1960s 1 2 Biographical file: James M. Blackwell 1953-1961 46 Certificates, honorary doctorates, and awards 1944-1969 19 Lists 1959-1966 46 Photographs undated 39, 39A Scrapbook material circa 1944-1970 40 Scrapbook material circa 1950-1971 41 Scrapbook material circa 1940-1970 Series IV. Printed materials

Contains books, magazines, and other periodicals.

 44 Book: Harvard Lampoon, 1876-1951 1952 44 Book: Search and Research, the collections and uses of the New York Public Library 1961 45 Periodicals: fashion and style 1925-1960 44 Periodicals: The Harvard Lampoon 1931-1961