RETROBITUARIES

Remembering Christine Jorgensen, America’s First Trans Celebrity

When news of Christine Jorgensen’s gender-affirming surgery made headlines, she decided to use the exposure to help people.

Rediscovering Edmonia Lewis, Pioneering Sculptor of Cleopatra and Christ

Edmonia Lewis shaped her own identity in clay and marble, becoming one of the most renowned sculptors of the 19th century.

Benjamin Banneker: Almanac publisher and surveyor of our nation's capital.

Benjamin Banneker, the Black Mathematician Who May Have Saved Washington, D.C.

The U.S. capital might have been a very different place if not for the surveying work of Benjamin Banneker.

A smattering of Mary Renault's bestsellers

Mary Renault, the Bestselling Gay Novelist in the Age of McCarthyism

In 1953, Renault penned the UK's "first openly homosexual novel by a serious writer"—and that was just the beginning of her groundbreaking career.

Grimm Prospects: Jack Grimm, the Eccentric Billionaire Hell-Bent On Finding the 'Titanic,' Bigfoot, and Noah's Ark

The oil tycoon tried to use a monkey named Titan to help find the sunken ship.

Stephanie St. Clair ran Harlem's numbers game for years.

Stephanie St. Clair, Harlem's Queen of the Underworld

In early 20th-century Harlem, gambling belonged to “Madame Queen.”

Georgia Gilmore's food helped feed the civil rights movement.

Georgia Gilmore, the Alabama Cook Who Fueled the Civil Rights Movement With Food

Georgia Gilmore played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement—one of feeding and funding those at the frontlines. A marvelous cook, she took it upon herself to bring together a secret society-esque group of women who used food to fuel the movement.

Without Ed Lowe, we might not be so friendly with cats.

Ed Lowe, the Inventor Behind Kitty Litter

With kitty litter, Ed Lowe changed how cats and humans bonded. But not everyone understood the idea: One woman tried feeding it to her cat.

Pioneering Black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux.

Oscar Micheaux, Hollywood's First Black Movie Mogul

From the 1920s to the 1940s, Oscar Micheaux led the way in shining a spotlight on Black culture in the movies.

Eliza Carpenter was among the racers in the Land Run of 1893.

Eliza Carpenter, the Black Jockey Who Made Horse Racing History

While women jockeys face obstacles, perhaps none has faced the level of challenge that Eliza Carpenter did.

Eugene Bullard, the World's First Black Fighter Pilot

Eugene Bullard survived some of the deadliest battles in history and became the world's first Black fighter pilot—all before the age of 30.

Schlesinger Library, RIAS, Harvard University // No Known Copyright Restrictions

Alice Dunnigan, the First Black Woman Journalist to Get White House Press Credentials

Alice Dunnigan overcame racism, sexism, and other obstacles to make history as the first Black woman credentialed to cover the White House.

Audrey Munson, America’s First Supermodel—And First Nude Movie Star

No matter what Manhattan neighborhood you’re in, there’s probably a sculpture of Audrey Munson nearby.

Photo collage by James Mato, Minute Media. Portraits: Wikimedia Commons. Newspaper clipping: Newspapers.com.

Lydia Locke, the Early 20th Century Opera Singer With a Life Ripped From the Tabloids

Between seven marriages, two dead husbands, and one fraudulent baby, opera singer Lydia Locke's life had enough scandal to fill a gossip rag several times over.

Kate Warne was instrumental in foiling a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

The Story of Kate Warne, America's First Female Private Detective

At a time when women were rarely, if ever, were considered for roles in law enforcement, Kate Warne became a top investigator—and helped saved Abraham Lincoln's life.

PHOTO COLLAGE BY DAMON AMATO, MINUTE MEDIA. MOTORCYCLE/CAR/DIVINGBOARD, ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES. PORTRAIT, MIDCO SPORTS MAGAZINE // YOUTUBE

Kitty O'Neil, Trailblazing Speed Racer and Wonder Woman's Stunt Double

Kitty O’Neil, a stuntwoman, drag racer, and diver, challenged assumptions about what it meant to be a deaf woman and set 22 speed records.

Photo illustration by Riccardo Zagorodnez, Mental Floss. Plane/landscape, iStock via Getty Images. Portrait, New York Public Library // Public Domain

Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History

No aviation schools in America would teach Bessie Coleman how to fly in the 1920s. So, she sailed to France and became the first African American and the first Native American woman to earn a pilot's license.

New York State Military Museum // Public Domain

Henry Johnson, the One-Man Army Who Fought Off Dozens of German Soldiers During World War I

In May 1918, Henry Johnson found himself alone in a French forest with a wounded ally, an empty rifle, and dozens of German soldiers closing in. He didn't run. He fought.

Reconstructing History: Anna Coleman Ladd, the Mask Artist of World War I

An artist and sculptor, Anna Coleman Ladd offered her talents to soldiers who had been badly disfigured fighting in World War I. Her masks helped restore their appearance and their self-confidence.

American writer, journalist, and feminist Dorothy Thompson in London in 1941

Dorothy Thompson, the Journalist Who Warned the World About Adolf Hitler

After this crusading reporter was kicked out of Germany, she continued her anti-Nazi coverage at home.

H.J. Meyers via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Remembering Nellie Bly, Rabblerouser and Pioneer of Investigative Journalism

Clever, gifted, and fearless, Nellie Bly—who was born on May 5, 1864—inspired both journalistic and social change in the late 19th century.

The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of Snake Handler Grace Olive Wiley

Grace Olive Wiley was an unconventional herpetologist whose love affair with snakes—and resistance to safety standards—would end up costing her her life.

Eliza Leslie: The Most Influential Cookbook Writer of the 19th Century

Literature was Eliza Leslie's passion, but her high-quality, distinctly American recipes were her bread and butter.

Lincoln Perry (stage name Stepin Fetchit) circa 1927

Lincoln Perry, the First Black Movie Star

Using the stage name Stepin Fetchit, Perry was the first Black actor to become a millionaire—but today, his legacy is controversial.