Dora Jane Hamblin (June 15, 1920 – August 17, 1993), known as Dodie Hamblin, was an American journalist and editor. She was the Rome bureau chief for ''Life'' magazine in Rome from 1956 to 1960, and oversaw the magazine's coverage of the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

. She was granted special access to the families of astronauts in the Apollo program, to write the book, ''

First on the Moon ''First on the Moon'' (russian: Первые на Луне, ''Pervye na Lune'') is a 2005 Russian mockumentary science fiction film about a fictional 1930s Soviet landing on the Moon. The film, which went on to win many awards, was the debut of ...

'' (1970).

Early life and education

Dora Jane Hamblin was born in

Bedford, Iowa Bedford is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,508 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County. Lake of Three Fires State Park is located a few miles northeast of Bedford. History The community is b ...

, the daughter of Allen Woolcott Hamblin and Grace Juliette Sailor Hamblin. Her father was a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

veteran and a newspaper editor and publisher. She graduated from Coe College in 1941, as a journalism major. She was president of her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, and president of the school's

Panhellenic Council The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is an umbrella organization for 26 (inter)national women's sororities throughout the United States and Canada. Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumn ...

, while in college, and played tennis, hockey and basketball. She earned a master's degree from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

in 1942.

Career

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Hamblin worked at the '' Cedar Rapids Gazette'', and for the

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...

in Europe and New Guinea. After the war, she wrote for the ''Red Cross Courier.'' She joined the staff of ''Life'' magazine in 1948, first as a researcher, and soon as a correspondent in Europe. She covered Eisenhower's 1950 visit to Europe with Gordon Parks. She became the magazine's bureau chief in Rome in 1956; during her tenure there, she oversaw the magazine's coverage of the 1960

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

and the election of

Pope John XXIII Pope John XXIII ( la, Ioannes XXIII; it, Giovanni XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, ; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 19 ...

. In 1960 she became assistant editor of the magazine, based in New York City, and in Houston from 1967 to 1969, to cover the Apollo program. She retired from ''Life'' in 1970. She also wrote for ''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...

, Smithsonian,'' and other national periodicals. Books by Hamblin included ''First on the Moon'' (1970, with Gene Farmer), ''Pots and Robbers'' (1970), ''Buried Cities and Ancient Treasures'' (1973), ''The First Cities'' (1973), ''The Appian Way'' (1974, with Mary Jane Grunsfeld), ''The Etruscans'' (1975), and her memoir, ''That Was The Life'' (1977). She also helped actress

Mary Martin Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American actress and singer. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she originated many leading roles on stage over her career, including Nellie Forbush in '' South Pacific'' (194 ...

with her autobiography, ''My Heart Belongs'' (1976).

Personal life and legacy

In 1970, Hamblin retired to Trevignano, Italy, and continued writing. She died from a heart attack in Italy, in 1993, aged 73 years. Her papers are in the Iowa Women's Archives at the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...

. Some of her recordings and notes are also in the Time Inc. Life Editorial Records at the New-York Historical Society. Hamblin appears in ''

The Astronaut Wives Club ''The Astronaut Wives Club'' is a 2015 American period drama television series developed by Stephanie Savage for ABC. It is based on Lily Koppel's 2013 book of the same name. The series tells the story of the wives of the Mercury Seven—America ...

'' (2013) by

Lily Koppel Lily Koppel (born 1981) is a writer living in New York City. She is known for her books '' The Red Leather Diary'' (2008) and ''The Astronaut Wives Club'' (2013). Career Koppel writes for ''The New York Times'' and other publications. She gradu ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamblin, Dora Jane 1920 births 1993 deaths Coe College alumni American women civilians in World War II People from Iowa Northwestern University alumni American journalists American foreign correspondents American magazine editors American expatriates in Italy American Red Cross personnel American expatriates in Papua New Guinea