Helen Gurley Brown
Helen Gurley Brown | |
|---|---|
 Helen Gurley Brown in 1996 | |
| Born | February 18, 1922 |
| Died | August 13, 2012 (aged 90) New York City, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | International Editor, Cosmopolitan |
| Notable credit(s) | Editor-in-chief, Cosmopolitan |
| Title | International Editor, Cosmopolitan; Former editor-in-chief, U.S. Cosmopolitan |
| Spouse(s) | David Brown (m. 1959–2010; his death) |
Helen Gurley Brown (February 18, 1922 – August 13, 2012) was an American author, publisher, and businesswoman. She was editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years.[2]
Early life[change | change source]
Brown was born in Green Forest, Arkansas on February 18, 1922, the daughter of Cleo and Ira Marvin Gurley.[3]
Career[change | change source]
After working at the William Morris Agency, Music Corporation of America, and Sam Jaffe talent agencies she went to work for Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency as a secretary.[4] Brown became well-known for her writing skills and moved her to the copywriting department where she advanced rapidly to become one of the nation's highest paid ad copywriters in the early 1960s. In 1959 she married David Brown, who later became the producer of Jaws, The Sting, Cocoon, Driving Miss Daisy, and other motion pictures.
In September, 2008, she was named the 13th most powerful American over the age of 80 by Slate magazine.[5]
After more than 50 years of marriage, her husband, David Brown, died at age 93 on February 1, 2010.[6][7]
Together with her husband David, Helen Gurley established the David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation.[8] This institution will be housed at both the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Stanford University School of Engineering|Stanford's Engineering School. Their $30 million donation to the two schools will be used to develop journalism in the context of new technologies.[8]
Death[change | change source]
Brown died at the McKeen Pavilion at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia after a brief hospitalization; she was 90.[9] In its statement announcing the news, Hearst Publications did not disclose a cause.[10]
Awards[change | change source]
- 1985 Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications[11]
- 1995: Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the Magazine Publishers of America[11]
- 1996: American Society of Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame Award[11]
- 1998 Editor of the Year by Advertising Age magazine[12]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Scanlon 2009, p. 1.
- ↑ Garner 2009.
- ↑ Scanlon 2009, p. 2.
- ↑ Scanlon 2009, p. 26.
- ↑ "80 Over 80: The most powerful octogenarians in America". Slate. September 11, 2008. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- ↑ Weber, Bruce (February 2, 2010). "David Brown, Film and Stage Producer, Dies at 93". The New York Times. p. A25. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ↑ McLellan, Dennis (February 2, 2010). "David Brown dies at 93; producer of 'Jaws,' 'The Sting'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Cosmo editor ponies up $30 million for the future of news". CNET. January 30, 2012. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (August 13, 2012). "'Cosmo' grand dame Helen Gurley Brown dies at age 90". USA Today. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ↑ Carlisle, Kate (August 13, 2012). "Helen Gurley Brown dies; editor of Cosmo and author of 'Sex and the Single Girl' was 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Legendary editor Helen Gurley Brown dies". Times Union. Albany, NY. August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ↑ "Cosmo editor moves to Glamour: Helen Gurley Brown successor leaves after 18 months at the helm". The Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. August 11, 1998. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
Other websites[change | change source]
- Helen Gurley Brown Papers and finding aid from the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith Collection Archived 2011-09-04 at the Wayback Machine
- (26 June 2003) "Sex and the Octogenarian" Archived 27 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine (Telegraph Interview)
- Brown Institute for Media Innovation Archived 2012-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
