Dorothy Shaver

Dorothy Shaver (1893 – 1959) was the first woman in the United States to head a multimillion-dollar firm.[1] She was a well known leader of the fashion industry.[2]

Life

Dorothy Shaver was born in Arkansas[1] to a judge. She attended the University of Arkansas and the University of Chicago.[3] After moving to New York City, she and her sister Elsie had success selling dolls called "Shaver dolls."[4]

Shaver attracted the attention of the president of Lord & Taylor, who hired her in 1924.[2] She established a Bureau of Fashion and Decoration there a year after she was hired.[5] After much success, she became president of Lord and Taylor in 1945 with a salary of $110,000.[1]

As president of Lord and Taylor, she corresponded with leaders from other industries, including Thomas J. Watson, the first president of IBM.[2]

Shaver lived with her sister Elsie most of her life. Neither of them ever married or had children.[2]

External Links

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dorothy Shaver". University of Arkansas Press. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Stephanie Amerian. "Fifth Avenue's First Lady: Dorothy Shaver" (PDF). UCLA: Travel Grants. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  3. ↑ "Dorothy Shaver" (PDF). Dorothy Shaver: The First Lady of Retailing. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  4. ↑ Perkins, Jeanne (1947-05-12). "No. 1 Career Woman". Life. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  5. ↑ Leach, William (1993). Land of Desire. New York: Pantheon Books. p. 315.
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