Edith Kinney Gaylord (March 5, 1916 – January 28, 2001), also referred to as Edith Gaylord Harper, was an American journalist and philanthropist.

Early life

She was born on March 5, 1916, in

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

to Inez and

E. K. Gaylord Edward King Gaylord (March 5, 1873 – May 30, 1974), often referred to as E.K. Gaylord, was the owner and publisher of the ''Daily Oklahoman'' newspaper (now ''The Oklahoman''), as well as a radio and television entrepreneur. Born in Atchison, Ka ...

. Her father was editor and publisher of ''

The Oklahoman ''The Oklahoman'' is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, United States, and is the only regional daily that covers the Greater Oklahoma City area. The Alliance for Audited Media (formerly Audit Bureau Circulation) lists it as the 59th larges ...

'' and ''The Oklahoma City Times''. She spent two semesters in private school in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, then returned to Oklahoma City to attend public schools and graduated from Classen High School. She briefly attended

Colorado College Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell in his daughter's memory. The college enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduates at its campus. The college offer ...

in Colorado Springs before graduating from

Wells College Wells College is a private liberal arts college in Aurora, New York. The college has cross-enrollment with Cornell University and Ithaca College. For much of its history it was a women's college. Wells College is located in the Finger Lakes reg ...

in Aurora, New York in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Career

Gaylord began her journalistic career reporting for her father’s newspaper and radio station in Oklahoma City. In the summer of 1942, she was hired by the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

in New York and was transferred five months later to their Washington, D.C. bureau. She was the first female employee on the general news staff. She filed stories from New York, Hollywood, San Francisco and Chicago while following Madam Chiang Kai-shek on her tour of America. When first lady

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

insisted the AP send a female reporter to cover her news conferences, Gaylord was assigned to the task, and developed a friendship with Mrs. Roosevelt. She became Mrs. Roosevelt's media liaison when she was elected president of the National Women’s Press Club in 1944. She also covered other notable events, including a visit to the United States by

Madame Chiang Soong Mei-ling (also spelled Soong May-ling, ; March 5, 1898 – October 23, 2003), also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang, was a Chinese political figure who was First Lady of the Republic of China, the wife of Generalissimo an ...

, the death of

Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

and the new first lady

Bess Truman Elizabeth Virginia Truman ('' née'' Wallace; February 13, 1885October 18, 1982) was the wife of President Harry S. Truman and the first lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953. She also served as the second lady of the United States from Ja ...

. Gaylord returned to Oklahoma City after the end of World War II, but rejoined the Associated Press in the early 1950s, covering the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London and other major events. She came back to the family business in 1963. Gaylord served as a member of the board of directors and corporate secretary for The Oklahoma Publishing Company.

Philanthropy

Gaylord quietly began her philanthropy efforts in the 1960s, often donating anonymously to those in need. In 1982 she founded both Inasmuch Foundation and

Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation (EEJF) is a grant-making foundation based in Oklahoma that provides grants to journalism institutions throughout the United States. In 2011, the foundation's assets were $91.1 million and $4 million ...

to carry out her giving. Gaylord became a charter trustee at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the college in 1992.

The University of Oklahoma , mottoeng = "For the benefit of the Citizen and the State" , type = Public research university , established = , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.7billion (2021) , pr ...

also presented Gaylord with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1997 for her contributions. Gaylord died on January 28, 2001, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, the same hospital where she had been born 84 years earlier.

Legacy

Universities in several states have honored the memory of Gaylord by naming new academic centers or professorships for her. *

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

, Gaylord College: Edith Kinney Gaylord Library *

Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City University (OCU) is a private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The university offers undergraduate bachelor's degrees, graduate master's degrees and doctor ...

, Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management: Edith Kinney Gaylord Center *

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

, Cronkite School of Journalism: Edith Kinney Gaylord Visiting Professorship in Journalism Ethics *

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of Mary ...

, Knight Hall for Journalism: Edith Kinney Gaylord Library and Resource Center *

: Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center and Edith Gaylord House

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaylord, Edith Kinney 1916 births 2001 deaths American women journalists Classen School of Advanced Studies alumni Wells College alumni Philanthropists from New York (state) People from Oklahoma City 20th-century American philanthropists 20th-century American women 20th-century American people