Betsy Talbot Blackwell papers

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)
Date of CollectionDate of Collection
Quantity: 45.92 cubic ft. (46 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.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

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 http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/s/f35qmq.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

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 Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in February 2011.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. CorrespondenceReturn to Top

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.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
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 workReturn to Top

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.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box
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
	Folder
20	4-7	Manuscript: Careers in Magazines	1965
20	1-3	Manuscript: Mademoiselle - A Publication Portrait	1944-1965
20		Speeches	1951-1966
Box	Folder
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. PersonalReturn to Top

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

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
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		Scrapbook material	circa 1944-1970
40		Scrapbook material	circa 1950-1971
41		Scrapbook material	circa 1940-1970

Series IV. Printed materialsReturn to Top

Contains books, magazines, and other periodicals.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
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

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.

Archives West Finding Aid

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