Ms. Vol 1, No. 1

Object Details

Associated Name

Steinem, Gloria

Description

This first issue of Ms. Magazine, published July 1, 1972, features Wonder Woman on its cover. Ms., founded by activists Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pittman Hughes, is a periodical providing “feminist news and information.” Introduced as a preview within a December 1971 issue of New York Magazine, Ms. ran as a monthly publication until 1987, when it converted to a quarterly.

Steinem chose Wonder Woman for the cover, in part, as a reaction to DC Comics’ decision to have the long-running character lose her superpowers.The magazine includes an essay concerning Wonder Woman’s history and role in inspiring feminism. Due in part to these efforts, Wonder Woman’s powers were soon restored within the comics.

Wonder Woman is a superhero created in 1941 by noted psychologist William Moulton Marsten (as Charles Moulton) and artist Harry G. Peters. An Amazonian princess possessing incredible strength and armed with magical devices, the character has made a profound cultural impact as the best known and longest lasting female superhero.

Moulton claimed Wonder Woman to be “psychological propaganda for a new type of woman” that he believed “should ... rule the world.” Introduced in DC Comics All-Star Comics #8, the character was an instant hit with readers, with early Wonder Woman stories featuring thrilling messages of female empowerment. The first, and for some time, only woman in All-Star Comics’ super team “The Justice Society of America,” the red, white and blue clad heroine soon helmed her own title, becoming one of the few characters to have survived continually from comic’s early “Golden Age” to the present.

Wonder Woman continues to inspire generations with her powerful combination of compassion and might. In addition to her genre-defining comic book appearances, the character has become a multi-media juggernaut and a symbol for women’s rights across the globe.

Appearing on scores of merchandise, the star-spangled superhero has been featured in video games, television and the big screen. In the 1970s television series ,“Wonder Woman” was portrayed by actress Lynda Carter, and in the 21st century Warner Bros. film series, she has been depicted by actress Gal Godot.

Location

Currently not on view

1972

ID Number

2015.0278.01

accession number

2015.0278

catalog number

2015.0278.01

Object Name

magazine

Physical Description

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 11 in x 8 3/8 in x 1/4 in; 27.94 cm x 21.2725 cm x .635 cm

place made

United States: New York, New York City

See more items in

Cultural and Community Life: Entertainment

National Museum of American History

subject

Wonder Woman

Feminist Movement

Record ID

nmah_1803345

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-fce4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa