Betsy Blackwell

Betsy Talbot Blackwell (1905 – February 4, 1985) was an editor of several women's magazines, best known for being the editor-in-chief of Mademoiselle from 1937 to 1971. Under her leadership, sales surged to nearly one million by the time she retired. In 1970, amidst the burgeoning women's liberation movement, Blackwell published an issue titled "The New Sex," paying tribute to the rise of the individualistic American woman, and she was one of the first editors to publish Gloria Steinem.

Early life and education Blackwell was born in New York City to Hayden Talbot, a playwright and author, and Benedict B. Talbot, a stylist. She was educated at St. Elizabeth's Academy, a Catholic girls' school, though she was not a Catholic. From 1937 until her retirement in 1971, she served as the editor-in-chief of the magazine. Many well-known authors were published in Mademoiselle during her time as editor-in-chief, including Eudora Welty, Truman Capote, William Faulkner, and Joyce Carol Oates. Joan Didion, Mona Simpson, Ann Beattie, Francine du Plessix Gray, Meg Wolitzer, Betsey Johnson, Ali MacGraw, and Diane Johnson.

Death and legacy She died in 1985 while being treated for emphysema. She was survived by her son and stepdaughter through her marriage to James Madison Blackwell. Papers relating to her life, including her personal and professional correspondence, along with her work at Mademoiselle, were bequeathed by her husband to the American Heritage Center, operated by the University of Wyoming.

Awards and honours In 1942, she received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award for her contributions to fashion, and in 1949 became the first woman to be elected to the board of New York publisher Street & Smith.