Visionary Women and Writers

Visionary Women and Writers. Missouri Wall of Fame. Susan Blow , 1843-1916 BORN IN ST LOUIS, MO , Known as the "Mother of Kindergarten," this educator opened the first successful public kindergarten in 1873 at Des Peres School just five miles downriver from St. Louis. Blow's bright and cheerful classrooms became the model for others across the country. , Dale Carnegie , 1888-1955 BORN IN MARYVILLE, MO , This famous writer and lecturer developed courses in self improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People was a best seller that remains popular today. , Linda Godwin , 1952-PRESENT LIVES IN CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO , This scientist and retired astronaut completed her doctorate at the University of Missouri-Columbia at age 28. After joining NASA, Godwin spent more than 38 days in space, completing four space flights, including in a docking mission with the Mir Space Station and a shuttle visit to the International Space Station. Her performance with the space agency earned her a number of prestigious honors. , Rose O'Neill , 1874-1944 LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD, MO , As the first published female cartoonist in the U.S., this illustrator, artist and writer is known for her creation of the popular comic strip characters Kewpies. O'Neill's cartoons were later manufactured as wildly popular bisque dolls and are considered to be one of the nation's first mass-marketed toys. At one time, O'Neill was the highest-paid female illustrator in the world. , Joseph Pulitzer , 1847-1911 LIVED IN ST LOUIS, MO , Best known for establishing the Pulitzer Prizes, this journalist published the St. Louis Post Dispatch and introduced the techniques of yellow journalism. Through his philanthropic bequest, Pulitzer founded the Columbia School of Journalism in New York City. Soon after, the annual Pulitzer Prizes were established to recognize achievements in American journalism and photography as well as literature, history, poetry, music and drama.