Elizabeth "Betty" Penrose Howkins (née Penrose, 1900–1972) was an American fashion journalist who was the editor of British Vogue, and Glamour, and women's news editor for The New York Times in the 1950s.
Elizabeth Penrose Howkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elizabeth Webb Penrose April 1, 1900 Johnson County, Wyoming, US |
| Died | January 10, 1972 (aged 71) New York City, US |
| Alma mater | Chestnut Hill College |
| Spouse(s) | Lloyd B Averill Walter Ashby Howkins |
Early life
editShe was born on April 1, 1900 in Johnson County, Wyoming, the daughter of James Norman Penrose and Julia Corcoran.[1] Wyoming was the family's summer home, and they otherwise lived in Philadelphia.[1] She was educated there at Chestnut Hill College (then known as Mount Saint Joseph College).[1]
Career
editPenrose began her career in 1924 working in the publicity department of the publisher E. P. Dutton. From 1931 to 1933 she worked as a merchandise editor of American Vogue magazine.[1]
In 1934, after Alison Settle was sacked, Penrose was sent to London to address British Vogue's "excessively sprightly nature".[2][3] Penrose was Condé Nast's "protégé and likely mistress".[3]
In 1939, Penrose came to the United States and was unable to return to England due to the outbreak of the Second World War. She resumed working for American Vogue.[2] In 1941 she became managing editor of Glamour magazine.[1] She worked there until 1954.[4]
In 1955 Penrose went to work for The New York Times as women's news editor, She retired in 1965.[4]
Personal life and death
editHer first marriage was to Lloyd B Averill (1891-1956), a First World War aviator and hotel businessman.[5] They divorced in 1938 "on grounds of extreme cruelty and neglect to provide".[5] In 1952, she married retired British Army Officer and financial consultant Colonel Walter Ashby Howkins.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Gottlieb, Agnes Hooper. "Howkins, Elizabeth Penrose". American National Biography. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1602772. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ a b Pentelow, Orla (10 April 2017). "Vogue Editors Through The Years". Vogue. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ a b Millar, Remy (10 April 2017). "A Complete History of British Vogue Editors-in-Chief". Culture Trip. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Bender, Marylin (12 January 1972). "Elizabeth Howkins, Editor, Dies; Headed Times's Women's News". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Woman Editor Divorces Averill". New York Times. October 12, 1938. Retrieved 31 August 2024.