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9/5/2019
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20th Century WomenJudith M. Barzilay
judi t hbva@gmai l .com
20th Century Women: JMB
Katharine Graham
Josephine Baker
Alma Mahler
1917 - 2001
1906-1975
1879 - 1964
Katharine Meyer GrahamSocialite, newswoman, publisher
• Born 1917 NYC, died 2001 in Boise, Idaho
• Family was exceptionally wealthy
•4th of 5 children of•Eugene Meyer, 1875 - 1959 •Agnes Ernst, 1887 – 1970
•Privileged upbringing but emotionally deprived
•The Three Taboos•Money•Sex•Being “Jewish”
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Katharine Personal
Katharine GrahamEducation and Early Influences• Governesses
• Madeira School
• Vassar
• University of Chicago
• Her siblings
Katharine Graham
Marriage and Social Life
• Philip Graham
• Meet and wed
• The 3 taboos (again)
• Phil and Felix
• Famous friends
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Katharine Photos
Katharine Graham in Washington
• Traditional marriage
• Managed the house & family
• Charity work
• Society activities
Katharine GrahamPhil’s Tragedy
• Had warnings
• Phil’s drinking
• Phil’s mental health
• Phil’s affair
• Phil’s suicide
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Katharine GrahamTakes Over
• Resolved to save the company for her children• As publisher she had tremendous influence• Struggles to manage her newspaper staff• Steep learning curve for business side• Help from Warren Buffett• Sexism• Labor Troubles
Katharine Graham, her finest hour
Pentagon Papers
•1967 study of Vietnam War policy
• 1st Am’d: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of… the press”
• Issue: could current administration (1971) restrain papers from publishing based on threat to national security?
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Pentagon Papers continued…• NY Times restrained: 1st time ever in U.S. history of prior restraint
• WAPO’s role
• SCt 6 – 3: gov’t loses; Papers can print but decision left room for criminal and civil jeopardy
• Now Nixon Administration openly at war with WAPO
Katharine Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Pb5tqX7e4
Katharine GrahamPersonality
• Traditional
• Intelligent
• Lacked confidence
• Became a feminist
• Courageous
• Capable of deep friendships
• Always learning
• Diligent
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Katharine GrahamLegacy
• Defender of Freedom of the Press
• Successful executive
• “Most powerful woman in America?”
• Award – winning writer
Josephine BakerEntertainer, Spy, Activist
• Born St. Louis, MO, 1906, died in Paris 1975
• Mother, Caroline McDonald, was unmarried
• Her father, unknown, was probably white
• Chaotic childhood
• Close with her grandmother and great-aunt
Josephine as a baby
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• Early show business career
• Finally, New York
• Broadway! Shuffle Along, 1921, Chocolate Dandies, 1924
• Highest paid chorus girl
Josephine BakerPerformer
• Married 4 times• Willie Wells (she was 13)• Billy Baker (she was 15)• Jean Lion (1937) became French citizen• Jo Bouillon• “Count” Pepito, her lover and astute manager• She had countless lovers, male & female
Josephine BakerPersonal Life
Josephine’s Husbands 3 & 4
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Josephine BakerCareer
• Paris in the 1920’s
• Danse Sauvages
• Club & concert performances
• Films
• She becomes a star
• Returns to US
Josephine at Work
Banana Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmw5eGh888Y&feature=youtu.be
La Cubana Dancehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QYqbGJbn7o
Siren of the Tropicshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEhK4bgYtI
Les Deux Amourshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHrOV8YorHI
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Josephine Baker, Spy• Recruited to French WWII Intelligence
• Spied in Lisbon
• Spied in North Africa
• Performs for French & American soldiers
• France honors her as Hero of the Resistance
Josephine Baker, Mother• Always loved babies
• Could not become pregnant
• “The Rainbow Tribe”• Eventually 12 adopted children
• Diverse backgrounds• Les Milandes as home
Rainbow Tribe
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Josephine Baker, Activist
• Speaks out for civil rights
• US tours in 1950’s & 1960’s
• March on Washington
Josephine at the Civil Rights March
Josephine Baker, Personality• Charismatic, courageous
• Creative, theatrical
• Hardworking
• Grandiose
• Impulsive, erratic
• Politically naïve
• Stubborn
• Generous
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Josephine Baker, Legacy
• Consummate Entertainer
• Citizen of the world
• Outspoken advocate for universal brotherhood
• Heroine of the Resistance
Alma Schindler Mahler Gropius Werfel, wife, muse, composer, writer• Born 1879 Vienna, Austria; Died 1964 NYC
• Inspired 2 of the greatest cultural icons of the 20th century•Mahlers 8th symphony•Kokoschka’s painting “The Tempest” aka Bride of the Wind •Wife of 3 key 20th century artists•Gustav Mahler, composer, 1902 – 1911•Walter Gropius, architect, 1915 – 1920•Franz Werfel, author, 1929 - 1945
Tom Lehrer’s Alma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWFEy1lVUMI&t=73s
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AlmaEarly Life and Influences
• Father, Emil Schindler, landscape painter
• Mother, Anna Bergen, studied voice
• Composition teachers
• Vienna itself at end of the 19th century
• First kiss from Gustav Klimt
Alma and Gustav
• Met November 7, 1901, dinner party• Gustav, 41, director of Vienna Opera• Alma, 22, composition student
• Infamous letter, December 1901
• Married March 9, 1902
• Everyday life with a genius; Gustav’s successful career
• Alma & Gustav in America
• Alma’s affairs
• Gustav died May 18, 1911
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYsz_D_je8E
One of Alma’s Liede
Mahler’s 8th Symphony excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Hk2SZGrRY
Alma and Oskar• Met Oskar Kokoschka April, 1912• Both passionate and theatrical• Alma’s 1912 pregnancy• Bride of the Wind• Between Oskar and Walter• End of the affair• Alma doll
The Tempest
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Oskar and the Alma Doll
Alma and Walter, reprise• Married secretly May 8, 1915
• Gropius on furlough from Austrian Army in WWI
• Spent most of the 5 year marriage apart
• Manon Gropius born October 5, 1916, Alma’s beloved Aryan child
• Divorce final 1920
Alma & Walter
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Alma & FranzEarly years in Europe
• Affair began 1917• Franz goes off to war• Alma has a son August 2, 1918, whose child?• Baby dies May 15, 1919• The affair becomes public 1919• Finally marry 1929, why?• Franz’s novels & plays extremely successful• Alma now 50, Franz 39
Alma and Franz in America
• Rise of Hitler• Anna’s view• Franz’s view
• Leave Austria for London & South of France
• Daring & dangerous escape to US in 1940
• Stop in Lourdes
• Settle in LA with other German refugees – Alma outspoken Antisemite
• Fabulous success of “Bernadette”
Alma without Franz
• Franz becomes very ill in 1943; Alma is a caring wife• Franz dies August 26, 1945; Alma does not attend his funeral• Alma returns to Vienna, 1947•Moves to NY permanently• Publishes an autobiography in 1958, And the Bridge is Love• Alma dies December 11, 1964; buried beside Manon in Vienna
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AlmaPersonality
• Dramatic, theatrical, exhibitionist• Self-centered, lacked empathy• Courageous, intelligent, ambitious• Charming, wonderful hostess• Severe alcoholic•Manipulative, combative• Full of contradictions• Bigoted, antisemitic
AlmaLegacy
• Muse to accomplished men
• Tried to own life of Mahler and his music
• Knew & influenced many 20th century geniuses
• Curated her own life, lived on her own terms
Three Women: Summing Up
• Common Experiences and Traits
• Differences
• Conclusions, Take-aways?