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↑ Anderson, left, worked for the Miami Herald. (Courtesy of Western Historical Manuscript Collection) Marie Anderson (1916 -)In 1955, The Miami Herald did something that seems almost bizarre today: They profiled the members of their staff who produced the weekly section “For and About Women.” A yellowed copy of that day’s newspaper is part of Marie Anderson’s papers in the collection, with a small headline: “Herald Staffer Marie — A Cosmopolitan Cracker.” Anderson was editor of the women’s section, although the Herald’s profile reveals little about her professional achievements. It does mention that Anderson, a graduate of Duke University, had little intention to go into journalism but possessed a keen ability to “please men with her funny stories.” Under Anderson, “For and About Women” won so many J.C. Penney-University of Missouri journalism awards that it was briefly retired from the competition. Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, the Herald applauded Anderson and her staff for their accomplishments in its news pages. And year after year, the caption for Anderson’s photo read simply, “Marie,” while on the same pages, her male colleagues were always identified by first and last names. Among Anderson’s papers are hundreds of clipped copies of “Monday Musings,” a column she wrote for many years. Kim Voss, assistant professor at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, who has researched the National Women and Media collection extensively, recalled recently an anecdote that captured Anderson’s wit and independence. “When once chastised by a managing editor for getting a haircut on ‘Miami Herald time,’” Voss said, “she responded that her hair also ‘grew on Miami Herald time.’” No one would have blamed Anderson had she continued producing the stereotypical women’s pages. However, she helped elevate the role of women reporters by insisting on coverage of serious issues. By the time she was promoted to do special projects in 1971, “For and About Women” featured less society gossip and more hard-news coverage of women in the workforce. |
