Lansing's Geraldine Doyle, inspiration behind 'Rosie the Riveter,' dies

[meegbear]

Source: LSJ.com



Her face became synonymous with women's empowerment, and her death is the passing of an era.

Geraldine Doyle of Lansing, whose face became the inspiration behind the iconic World War II image of "Rosie the Riveter," has died, according to her family. A memorial service is planned for 4 p.m., Jan. 8 at Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw St.

"'Rosie the Riveter' is the image of an independent woman who is control of her own destiny," said Gladys Beckwith, former director of the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame. "She was a gracious, beautiful woman. Her death is the end of an era, and we need to take note of that. We need to respect what she stood for."

Doyle was 86.

Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101229/NEWS01/312290008/Lansing-s-Geraldine-Doyle-inspiration-behind-Rosie-the-Riveter-dies

[Citizen Worker]

1. RIP Sister Doyle, you were and are an inspiration to working women.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Go with the Goddess,

dear sister. We would not have won WWII without them.

[donquijoterocket]

5. when

My Father a combat veteran of the Pacific campaign passed away it was remarked to me that we're losing men like him at something like 1,000 a day. I have to wonder how many women like this pass unremarked.One hopes that iconic poster survives it may be all the memorial those women get.

[trud]

3. more info and photo

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201012300334

[handmade34]

4. I grew up in and around Lansing, MI

I didn't know Geraldine Doyle, but I knew "Rosie the Riveter" "Her death is the end of an era..."



Side Note: My mother is 83 and just this past summer talking about health care and insurance, she explained that she had never gone without health insurance. I had never thought about it, but realized that was because of Oldsmobile and the other automotive plants and the Union. She and most of the rest of my family had always worked in some capacity for Olds...

[trud]

6. GE

My Dad and a brother worked for GE for decades. I am glad my Dad did not live to see GE start producing bad quality appliances and polluting the heck out of the environment.

[felix_numinous]

7. What a timeless image

I wish women were always portrayed this strong.

[Javaman]

8. While famous, not the original...

The original "Rosie the Rivitor" was done by Norman Rockwell.

Here...



This is the one I prefer.

On edit: I stand corrected. The Rockwell version came out in '43. Millers version came out in'42.

However, the original model for "Rosie the Rivtor" was Shirley Karp Dick.

From Wikipedia...

Shirley KarpIn 1943-1945, Shirley Karp Dick (who was the original Rosie during 1939-1941) revived her role as Rosie the Riveter. She was paid $6 to model. Her most famous photos was of Rosie in a U.S fighter (with another woman fueling up the plane). During her tenure as Rosie, Shirley was part of the movement that motivated over 11 million women to join in World War II, by doing the paperwork, making guns for soldiers, or doing other service in the war effort.

Shirley Karp died on January 15, 2009 at the age of 85; at the time she was the oldest living Rosie the Riveter model.<23><24>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_the_Riveter

[meegbear]

9. +1

Another great image showing what women can do.