PATRICIA CRONIN (1963-)
The feminist artist has garnered international attention for her photographs, paintings, and sculptures that address contemporary human rights issues. Permanently on view in Woodlawn, Memorial to A Marriage (2002)—the first marriage equality monument in the world—depicts Cronin and her now wife Deborah Kass in an entwined embrace on a bed.
COUNTEE CULLEN (1903-1946)
Writer Cullen was an iconic figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his poetry, fiction, and plays. Most notable among Cullen’s works are Copper Sun (1927), The Ballad of the Brown Girl (1928), and The Medea and Some Poems (1935).
CLYDE FITCH (1865–1909)
The highly successful dramatist was best known for plays of social satire and character study. From 1890 to the early 1900s, Fitch was the most popular playwright on Broadway.
MALVINA HOFFMAN (1885–1966)
Hoffman, who specialized in life-size sculptures in bronze, plaster, and marble, was known as sculptor first rank in the art world. Her bronze busts of Thomas Paine and Henry David Thoreau can be found at the Hall of Fame for Great Americans on the grounds of today’s Bronx Community College.
DEBORAH KASS (1952-)
The painter, printmaker, and sculptor’s work explores the intersection of pop culture and art history. Her 16-foot bright yellow aluminum OY/YO outdoor sculpture greets visitors to the Brooklyn Museum.
J. C. LEYENDECKER (1874–1951)
Admired by Norman Rockwell and acknowledged as one of America’s preeminent 20th century illustration masters, Leyendecker rose to fame as the creator of elegant artworks for mass publication. The master illustrator captivated the public with his striking images and fashionable depictions of handsome men and glamorous women.
GEORGE PLATT LYNES (1907–1955)
Best known for his portraits of Hollywood stars, ballet dancers, writers, Lynes was a central figure in the New York photography world. He produced photographs featuring many gay artists and writers from the 1940s that were acquired by the Kinsey Institute in Bloomington, IN.
ELISABETH MARBURY (1856-1933)
The pioneering theatrical and literary agent and producer helped shape business methods of the modern commercial theater and encouraged women to enter the industry. As a theater agent, Marbury pioneered the system of royalties for playwrights in this country.
ROI COOPER MEGRUE (1883-1927)
The popular playwright, producer, and director active on Broadway from 1914 to 1921. Opening at the Astor Theatre at West 45th Street in Times Square, his Why Marry? won the first Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1918.
BERT SAVOY (1876-1923)
A female impersonator known for his outrageous behavior, Savoy specialized in cross-dressing as a vaudeville act. His comedic skits contributed to popular culture with phrases such as “You slay me” and “You don’t know the half of it.”
JOHN STERLING (1844-1918)
One of America’s preeminent corporate lawyers, Sterling was a founding partner of Shearman & Sterling and major benefactor to Yale University. On his death in 1918, Sterling left a residuary estate of $15 million to Yale—equivalent to about $200 million today; the Yale bequest led to the construction of Sterling Memorial Library, Sterling Law Building, Hall of Graduate Studies, and Sterling Hall of Medicine.