Edith Kinney Gaylord

Edith Kinney Gaylord (March 5, 1916 – January 28, 2001), also referred to as Edith Gaylord Harper, was an American journalist and philanthropist.

Early life

She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 5, 1916, to parents Inez and E. K. Gaylord. Her father was editor and publisher of The Oklahoman and The Oklahoma City Times. She spent two semesters in private school in Switzerland, then returned to Oklahoma City to attend public schools and graduated from Classen High School. She briefly attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs before graduating from Wells College in Aurora, New York in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Career

Gaylord began her journalistic career reporting for her father’s newspaper and radio station in Oklahoma City. In the summer of 1942, she was hired by the Associated Press in New York and was transferred five months later to their Washington, D.C. bureau. She was the first female employee on the general news staff.

While working for the AP in 1943, Gaylord followed Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, the First Lady of China, on her tour of the United States. In 1944, Eleanor Roosevelt was the first U.S. First Lady to call her own press conference. She insisted that any journalist covering the next conference be a woman. The AP assigned Gaylord to the task. Gaylord was elected president of the National Women’s Press Club in 1944. While in that role, Gaylord served as Mrs. Roosevelt’s media liaison and then secretary of Roosevelt’s Press Conference Association.

Gaylord became a charter trustee at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the college in 1992. The University of Oklahoma also presented Gaylord with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1997 for her contributions. Oklahoma City University, Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management: Edith Kinney Gaylord Center Arizona State University, Cronkite School of Journalism: Edith Kinney Gaylord Visiting Professorship in Journalism Ethics University of Maryland, College Park, Knight Hall for Journalism: Edith Kinney Gaylord Library and Resource Center Colorado College: Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center and Edith Gaylord House

Family Edith's father E.K. Gaylord was editor and publisher of The Oklahoman and The Oklahoma City Times.

Edith's brother Edward Gaylord inherited controlling interest of The Oklahoman in 1974. He also purchased the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee and created the cable television channels The Nashville Network (TNN) and Country Music Television (CMT).

Edith's niece Christy Gaylord Everest served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oklahoma Publishing Company from 2003 to 2011.