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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?