New York City Nostalgia: Meet Miss Subways/Exhibit at the New York Transit Museum

Miss Subways was a beauty contest that was held in New York City from 1941-1976; the winner had her photo and bio posted for a month or two, in the subways.

The Miss Subway exhibit is the project of a photographer, Fiona Gardner and a writer, Amy Zimmer, who were intrigued by the photographs that once hung between ads on subway trains; they managed to collect 147 of the original 200 posters and to track down 50 former Miss Subways and interview 41.

The project turned into a lesson in history and sociology, not only mapping lives but our culture and its evolution. Beautiful young women before, during and after World War II all seem to aspire to be married or a model. Gradually we see those attending college, establishing careers, holding jobs-dealing with sexual discrimination and harassment but persevering, going home to families and even doing a man’s job. Some became teachers, lawyers; there was even a pilot.

The exhibit It is a sweet look back at the past and how it morphed into the present via lovely faces with tiny bios on posters that hung over millions of riders on subway trains.

Please view the photos across. You can click on the first and view them enlarged, in sequence. Scroll down for descriptions.

The book will soon be available. You can order it by emailing the author at: fionagardner@gmail.com

: Careers reflect the evolution of our society.

: Part of the exhibit at the Transit Museum

Meet Miss Subways

Ruth Lippman

: Note: Ruth Lippman, center

: Ruth Lippman, today

Marie Theresa Thomas

: Marie Thomas, today

Enid Berkowitz Schwarzbaum

: Enid Berkowitz Schwarzbaum, today

Ellen Hart Sturm

: Ellen Hart, today at her Stardust Diner in the theater district of Manhattan

Neddy Garde

: Neddy Garde, today

Heidi Hafner

: Heide Hafner, today

Eileen Ryan Keating

: Eileen Ryan, today

Senora Selsely

: Sanora Selsely, today

More about Miss Subways:

Miss Subway Exhibit at the New York Transit Museum (130 Livingston St. between Schermerhorn Street and Boerum Place in Downtown, (718) 694–1600, www.mta.info/mta/museum]. Through March 25, 11 am, $7.

http://www.mta.info/news/stories/?story=890

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/sets/72157632135061913/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Subways/402782390723?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/miss-subways-trip-back-time-new-yorks-melting-pot

http://www.radiodiaries.org/miss-subways/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/27932455/meet-miss-subways-new-yorks-beauty-queens-1941-197/posts