In 1917, Katharine Gibbs rebounded from personal tragedy in an unusual way: she decided to train a subversive, feminist army. Nearly broke and with only a high school education, Gibbs trained women as executive secretaries, building a famous school in just a few years. “Gibbs Girls” were so intelligent, competent, and polite, that no one could justify the dusty old notions that women belonged at home. The American workplace was changed forever.
Our guest is Vanda Krefft, author of Expect Great Things! How the Katharine Gibbs School Revolutionized the American Workplace for Women.
All images by permission of Vanda Krefft unless otherwise attributed
Vanda Krefft is the author of Expect Great Things!, a social history of the famed Katharine Gibbs School and its impact on the American workplace for women. The book tells the lively, unlikely story of Katharine Gibbs herself and celebrates the many pathfinding achievements of her school’s graduates during the early to mid-20th century. Vanda’s previous book, The Man Who Made the Movies, is the first in-depth biography of Twentieth Century Fox founder William Fox and reveals Fox’s many pivotal contributions to the American film industry as well as the shocking events that ended his career. Previously, Vanda wrote about the entertainment industry for leading national magazines and syndicated news services. Her work has appeared in Elle, Redbook, Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, and the Los Angeles Times.
Music featured in this episode included:
“If I Had You” and “All By Yourself in the Moonlight” by Irving Aaronson & His Commanders, “The Things That Were Made for Love” by Nat Shikret & The Victor Orchestra, “I Kiss Your Hand Madame” by Leo Reisman & His Orchestra, “Nobody But You” by Fred Rich & His Orchestra, “Love Me” by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, “We’ll Be the Same” by Arden & Ohman, “True Blue Lou” by Johnny Marvin, “Resolver” by Amulets, “Athena” by JVNA
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