Trailblazers Archives

Jean Carroll (1911-2010), Pioneered the Path for Female Stand-Up Comediennes

One of the early female comics (Moms Mabley preceded her, performing in the 1910s, but she was on the black vaudeville circuit; more about her another day)
Appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show more than twenty times

Born Celine Zeigman in Paris, France, she moved with her family to New York City when she was still a child. Her father was abusive to her mother. Growing up in that atmosphere led Celine to the conclusion that she needed to be self-supporting, to never have to be dependent upon a man.

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Ruth Harriet Louise, First Female Staff Photographer in Hollywood

Ruth Harriet Louise was the first female photographer hired by a Hollywood studio for the all-important portraits of the movie stars featured in the 1920s. Her work brought a heightened

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Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink (1927-2002), Pressed for Passage of Title IX

Patsy Takemoto Mink served two separate stints in the US Congress (1965-1976) and (1990-2002), representing Hawaii’s 1^st and 2nd Congressional Districts. As the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, she worked tirelessly for civil rights, women’s rights, economic justice, civil liberties, peace, and the integrity of the democratic process.

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Althea Gibson, “Unlikely Champion” of Tennis

Althea Gibson (1927-2003) was born in Silver, South Carolina in 1927, but she grew up in Harlem where her family moved when she was very young. She was an unlikely

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Helena Rubinstein (1870-1965), Extraordinarily Successful Businesswoman

Created a product that launched in international empire

Helena Rubinstein was the eldest of eight daughters born to a store owner and his wife in Kraków, Poland.

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Maria Tallchief (1925-2013), Prima Ballerina

Considered America’s first major prima ballerina and first Native American to achieve that distinction Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was born on an Indian reservation in Fairfax, Oklahoma in 1925. Her

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American Presidents and Their Families

Black Leaders

Entrepreneurs & Inventors

Heroes & Trailblazers

Inspirational Women

Latin Heritage

Native American Culture

Only in the USA

Sports, Cars & Pastimes

Stories of War

American Dogs

Election Stories