Women on Stamps: Part 4

The Roots of Gospel

The invigorating sound of gospel music has inspired Americans for generations. Artists such as Roberta Martin and Sister Rosette Tharpe greatly influenced the creation of an American gospel tradition by contributing their unique voices to the genre.

The Postal Service acknowledged the contributions Roberta Martin and Sister Rosetta Tharpe have made to gospel music by including them in the American Music Series: Gospel Issue. The stamps were designed by Howard Paine and the ceremony was held at the New Orleans Superdome during the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference.

Roberta Martin (1907-1969) is a prominent African American gospel singer that is most well known for her versions of “Amazing Grace” and “If you Pray.” In 1935 Martin started her legendary gospel group, the Martin-Frye Quartet. The quartet eventually changed their name to the Roberta Martin Singers, and the group was most well known for each singer having a distinctive voice in their songs. In addition to her successful singing career, Martin also founded the Roberta Martin Studio of Music, which produced and distributed sheet music for black churches across America.

Revolutionary Jazz Artists

In the early 1900’s, experimental musicians began to form a sound that we today know as jazz. This new form of music was largely created by African Americans living in the American south. Two African American women that had a tremendous impact on jazz music are Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Billie Holiday (1916-1959) is one of the most famous and influential jazz singers of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Holiday is most well known for her incredible control over the unique sound of her voice. Although Holiday experienced severe racism and discrimination, she still managed to make a career for herself by performing at various nightclubs during the 1930’s. Despite her success and fame, Holiday struggled with mental illness throughout her life, and eventually died due to effects from drug addiction and alcohol.

The Billie Holiday stamp was designed by Howard Koslow for the American Music Series: Jazz Singers Issue. The stamp was issued in Greenville, Mississippi, during the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. The stamp contains a photograph of Billie Holiday taken by William O. Gottlieb in 1940.

A Case of the Blues

The musical traditions of southern African Americans have tremendously effected the development of music in America. The African American genre of the blues influenced both the creation of jazz and popular music. Gertrude Rainey and Bessie Smith are two blues singers that greatly contributed to the genre.

The Gertrude Rainey and Bessie Smith stamps were issued by the Postal Service to honor their contributions to music. The stamps were issued in Greenville, Mississippi, during the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. The Gertrude Rainey stamp was designed by Julian Allen and the Bessie Smith stamp was designed by Howard Koslow. Both stamps are part of the American Music Series: Jazz Singers Issue.

“Ma” Gertrude Rainey (1886-1939) started her career in vaudeville, but became an influential blues singer during the 1920’s. Rainey performed with her husband, William “Pa” Rainey, and the couple worked under Paramount Records. “Ma” Gertrude Rainey’s contribution to blues music has been acknowledged by the music community through her inductions into the Blue Foundation Blues Hall of Fame (1983), Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame (1990), and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame (1992).

A Swingin' Time

Swing music was largely popular in America throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Jazz music greatly influenced the development of swing music; so many jazz artists later became involved with the swing scene as well. One artist who produced both jazz and swing music was Mildred Bailey.

Mildred Bailey (1907-1951) greatly contributed to the 1930’s jazz and swing music scenes. She greatly influenced the musical career of her childhood friend Bing Crosby, and also acted as a mentor to Billie Holiday. In addition to encouraging the careers of other musical legends from her lifetime, Bailey also became the first woman to tour with a band when she joined the Paul Whiteman orchestra. Later in her career, Bailey had great success on the radio when her and her husband, Red Norvo, started their own radio show.

The Mildred Bailey stamp was issued in Greenville, Mississippi, during the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. The stamp was designed by Howard Koslow for the American Music Series: Jazz Singers Issue.

Leading Ladies of the Opera

The classical singing form of opera has remained popular from generation to generation. One of the most prestigious opera companies in the world is New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Three of the Metropolitan Opera’s most renowned singers are Rosa Ponselle, Lily Pons, and Marian Anderson.

Rosa Ponselle (1887-1981) is one of the Metropolitan Opera’s most well known sopranos. However, this leading lady began her career on the vaudeville stage and in theatre productions. In the 1920’s Ponselle got her big break at the Metropolitan Opera, where she consistently played leading roles for twenty years. Despite the fact that she was still a success at the opera, in 1937 Ponselle ended her professional career to focus on her domestic life. However, although she no longer performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Ponselle still remained active in the Opera world through acting as a mentor for up and coming singers.

Pop Sensations

Popular music is a vital part of America’s history. By examining the changes in popular music, we can learn more about the changes that have occurred in American culture and society as a whole. Ethel Waters, Ethel Merman, and Dinah Washington are three popular artists that demonstrate changes in society through their music.

Ethel Waters (1896-1977) is one of the most outstanding African American popular artists of her time. Like many artists, Waters began her career on the vaudeville stage before she achieved national fame in the 1920’s. In the 1930’s she made Broadway history by becoming the first African American to receive equal wages with her white co-stars for her role in As Thousands Cheer. Waters continued to have a successful career into the 1940’s, and in 1949 received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Pinky. Because of her immense success during her career, Ethel Waters has remained an important figure of popular music throughout the twentieth century.

Popularizing Country Music

Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, country and folk music did not often reach a national audience. However, as the twentieth century progressed, country music became increasingly popularized at the national level. Musicians such as Sara Dougherty Carter, Maybelle Carter, and Patsy Cline expanded the boundaries of the genre and helped revolutionize the way America viewed country music.

In 1993 the United States Postal Service honored The Carter Family and Patsy Cline by featuring them on postage stamps. The stamps were designed by Richard Waldrep for the American Music Series: Country Music Issue. The ceremony was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.

Patsy Cline (1932-1963) greatly contributed to the popularization of country music across America. Although Cline performed throughout the early 1950’s, she did not achieve substantial national fame until she won the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts Show in 1957. After the Talent Scouts Show, Cline attained national fame as an artist until her death in 1963 that resulted from a tragic plane crash. In 1973 Cline was honored by the country music community when she became the first solo female performer inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A Broadway Songwriter

Until the mid twentieth century it was very difficult for a female composer to get her work taken seriously. One exceptional female composer that broke through the gender restrictions of her life time and became a Broadway Composer is Dorothy Fields.

Dorothy Fields (1904-1974) is one of the most talented female composers of the twentieth century. Fields had a remarkable career and worked on many of America’s most famous musicals, including Annie Get Your Gun. Throughout her career, Fields won many awards including an Academy Award in 1936 for her original song, “The Way you Look Tonight.” Fields also won a Tony in 1959 for best musical for her work on Red Head.

Fields contributions to music composition in America were recognized by the Postal Service, through featuring her on a postage stamp. The Dorothy Fields stamp was designed by Gregg Rudd for the American Music Series: Songwriters. Fields was the only woman featured in the songwriters issue and the ceremony for the stamp was in New York, New York.

Revolutionary Dancers

Throughout the twentieth century, the art of dance went through significant changes. Although ballet is one of the most traditional forms of dance, exceptional choreographers helped to modernize and expand the definition of classical ballet. Two of these influential choreographers are Martha Graham and Agnes de Mille.

In the 1930’s and 1940’s Martha Graham (1894-1991) revolutionized the world of dance. Although she began dancing at the late age of twenty two, Graham quickly excelled at the art form and opened a dance company in 1929. Graham’s company differed from other ballet companies of the time by rejecting traditional methods of dance and by not wearing pointe shoes. Although Graham had her last performance at age seventy five, she continued to choreograph into her late seventies and early eighties. Because of Martha Graham’s unique style of choreography, she influenced the creation of a modern dance movement that is influential to this day.

Stars of the Silent Screen

In the early days of film, before “talkies” had been invented, all movies were silent. Despite the lack of sound, talented silent film stars conveyed a variety of characters and emotions through acting. Theda Bara, Zasu Pitts, Clara Bow, and Greta Garbo are some of the most accomplished silent film actresses within American history.

Greta Garbo (1905-1990) received professional acting training at the Royal Dramatic Theatre Academy. After her schooling, Garbo found a mentor in director Mauritz Stiller, and eventually established a professional career in film when she received a contract with MGM. Although Great Garbo performed in primarily silent films, she did receive a role in a talking film as well.

Greta Garbo had a postage stamp released in her honor on her 100th anniversary. The stamp was designed by Carl Herrman and was based on a photograph taken by Clarence Sinclair Bull in 1932 during the filming of Garbo’s movie, “As You Desire Me.”

Funny Girls, Female Comedians

The world of comedic acting was long dominated by male actors. However as the twentieth century progressed, exceptional female actresses began to break into comedic roles. Two women that significantly expanded the roles of women in comedy are Fanny Brice and Lucille Ball.

Fanny Brice (1891-1951) is one of the most outstanding early female comedians. Brice first achieved fame as a vaudeville actress, and then worked with the well known Ziegfeld Follies theatrical shows group. Brice’s most well known character is “Baby Snooks,” a self created character that was sneaky and cunning. In addition to her comedic career, Fanny Brice is also well known for the Broadway musical, Funny Girls, which was based on her life story. Because of her contributions to comedic acting, Fanny Brice remains an iconic female comedian to this day.

The Postal Service issued a Fanny Brice stamp in Hollywood, California. The stamp was designed by Al Hirschfeld who also did the art work on the stamp. Hirschfeld illustrated Brice as her iconic character Baby Snooks. The stamp is part of the Comedian Commemorative Issue, and Brice is the only woman honored in the issue.

A Sure Shot

As American borders grew during the time of Western expansion, so did women’s societal roles. Due to the difficult lifestyle of western settlers, distinctive gender roles within domestic life became blurred, and many women learned traditional male tasks. One woman that excelled at the typically male sport of shooting is Annie Oakley.

Annie Oakley (1860-1926) is best known for her excellent ability to shoot any object precisely. Oakley used her skills to perform in western shows, and from 1885-1902 she performed in the famous Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Oakley’s skills as a shooter were rare and unexpected for a woman of her time period, and a result she has become a legend of the American west. The story of Annie Oakley has been passed down between generations largely through the 1946 Broadway play, Annie Get Your Gun.

The legacy of Annie Oakley was honored by the Postal Service through the issue of an Annie Oakley postage stamp. The stamp was designed by Mark Hess for the Legends of the West Issue and depicts Oakley holding a gun while standing in front of a scene of the American west.

A Family Affair

Many artists team up with other family members or their spouses in order to strengthen their careers. For example, Lynn Fontanne and her husband Alfred Lunt were more successful as a couple than individually. Other artists, such as Ethel Barrymore, are born into families of celebrities. Either way, these women prove that sometimes family connections can help make your career.

Lynn Fontanne (1887-1983) gained her greatest success as an actress by working with her husband Alfred Lunt. The couple worked with one another for forty years, and became known as a Hollywood team. Although she consistently worked with her husband, Fontanne had significant talent as an actress, and in 1931 was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Guardsmen.

The Lynn Fontanne stamp was designed by Carl Herrman and was issued in New York, New York at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre. The stamp features a picture of Lynn Fontanne with her husband, Alfred Lunt.

Breaking Racial Boundaries

African American actors and singers experienced extreme discrimination in both their personal and professional lives during the twentieth century. However, despite this hardship, many African American performers still achieved national success in their careers. One particular actress that persevered through racism is Hattie McDaniel.

Although there are many African American artists that broke through the racial boundaries of their time, Hattie McDaniel (1895-1952) is one of the most accomplished African American actresses of the 1930’s. As many actresses of the 1920’s and 1930’s did, McDaniel started out her career in vaudeville. She then expanded her career through singing with the Morrison Orchestra. In 1931 McDaniel shifted from stage to screen and started appearing in films, and eventually achieved national fame with her role as Mammy in the film, Gone With the Wind. She became the first African American to attend the Academy Awards in 1939, when she won the award for best supporting actress.

Because of her contributions to film, the Postal service issued a Hattie McDaniel stamp in her honor. The stamp was issued at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California, as part of the Black Heritage Series. The stamp features a portrait created by Tim O’Brian that is based on a 1941 photograph of McDaniel.

1940’s and 1950’s Darlings

Many of the classic movies in American history were produced during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Films such as The Wizard of Oz and Breakfast at Tiffany’s have become staples of American popular culture that are passed down between generations. Four of the most iconic actresses from this time period are; Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) is an iconic figure in American film history. Monroe began her career as a model, and is most well known for being the first centerfold in Playboy. In addition to her modeling career, Monroe was also an active actress and stared in movies such as, The Seven Year Itch and How to Marry a Millionaire. In 1959 her skills as an actress were acknowledged when she won a Golden Globe for Some Like it Hot. Despite her international fame as an actress and sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe suffered from severe depression. In 1962 Monroe died tragically young from a drug overdose, however since her death Marilyn Monroe has remained an important figure within American culture.

On the anniversary of her birthday, a Marilyn Monroe stamp was issued. The stamp was designed by Michael Deas and was released in Universal City, California. The stamp features a 1950’s photograph of Monroe.

Conclusion

In Women on Stamps: Part 4, we have highlighted the accomplishments of women in the performing arts. Previous sections of the Women on Stamps series have focused on political, professional, literary, and artistic women.

See also:

Women on Stamps: Part 1 introduces a series of four virtual exhibits exploring the accomplishments of pioneering women and early government leaders in America.

Women on Stamps: Part 2 features women who pioneered in the fields of health, science, education, philanthropy, aviation and athletics.

Women on Stamps: Part 3 features women who have made significant contributions to the visual arts and literature.

The four Women on Stamps virtual exhibits are part of a larger effort to focus on diversity within America. To learn more about American diversity, go to the National Postal Museum's Virtual Exhibits page to view virtual exhibits on African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American Indians.

http://npm.si.edu/exhibits/virtual