Starting in 1943 with the hiring of Helene Rother, GM styling head Harley Earl began a project to employ women as designers at General Motors. Eventually, a group of ladies that would be dubbed the “Damsels of Design”, and their touch on the automotive world established a legacy that lasts to this day. By 1958, when the “Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars” event took place in the General Motors Styling Dome, the ladies had a firm grip on styling that proved Earl was justified in his program. Names such as Gere Cavanaugh, Joan Klatil Creamer, Marjorie Ford Pohlman, Ruth Glennie, Jeanette Linder, Sandra Longyear, Peggy Sauer and Sue Vanderbilt were the pioneers of what would soon become an accepted practice in design. Their touches to automobiles and even home appliances such as the GM division of Frigidaire refrigerators, revolutionized the use and beauty of everything they touched. Some of the “Damsels” eventually moved on to other designing jobs after Harley Earl retired in 1958, but their legacy is still going strong. Enjoy the video and the photo gallery below!
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The Damsels of Design
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The Damsels of Design
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The Damsels of Design
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The Damsels of Design
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Inside the Sue Vanderbilt designed Cadillac Baroness
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Inside the Sandra Longyear styled 1958 Pontiac Polaris
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Inside the Marjorie Ford Pohlman styled Buick Shalimar
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The Jeanette Linder styled Chevrolet Impala Martinique convertible was to include a three-piece set of fiberglass luggage to match the upholstery.
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The Damsels of Design
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Inside the Peggy Sauer styled Oldsmobile Carousel Station Wagon
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The Marjorie Ford Pohlman designed Buick Special Tampico convertible
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The Ruth Glennie styled Fancy Free Corvette
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The Ruth Glennie styled Fancy Free Corvette
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The Ruth Glennie styled Fancy Free Corvette
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The Ruth Glennie styled Fancy Free Corvette
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The Ruth Glennie styled Corvette Fancy Free was the first vehicle to feature a hydraulic seatbelt retractor system
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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The "Spring Fashion Festival of Women Designed Cars" event
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Bill Mitchell reviewing Joan Klatil Creamer work for the Summer Students Program
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Joan Klatil Creamer and Stanley Parker at the Cadillac Design Studio
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Joan Klatil Creamer working on the Summer Students Program
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Future Cadillac design by Joan Klatil Creamer
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Future Cadillac design by Joan Klatil Creamer
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Future Cadillac design by Joan Klatil Creamer
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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Future Cadillac design by Joan Klatil Creamer
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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A Joan Klatil Creamer design
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Future Cadillac design by Joan Klatil Creamer
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Helene Rother