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Ms. Vol 1, No. 1

National Museum of American History

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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
Culture and the Arts: 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

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