Discipline: Literature

Letitia Baldridge

Discipline: Literature
MacDowell Fellowships: 1974
Letitia Baldrige (1926-2012) was an American writer and public relations executive most widely known for the time she spent serving as Jacqueline Kennedy’s social secretary. She also wrote a newspaper column, owned a PR firm, appeared on the cover of Time magazine and “Late Night with David Letterman” in addition to publishing 20 books. Baldrige received a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College. She was first hired by the State Department as social secretary to David K.E. Bruce, and was later appointed the secretary in Rome to the American ambassador. Baldrige then became the director of public relations for jeweler Tiffany and Co. before becoming Jaqueline Kennedy’s social secretary. In addition to her employment, Baldrige served on the board of directors of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and did significant charity work with Jane Goodall to support the preservation of habitats for wild chimpanzees.

Studios

Veltin

Letitia Baldridge worked in the Veltin studio.

Veltin Studio was donated by alumni of the Veltin School, a school for girls in New York with a highly respected visual arts department. As the plaque just outside the entrance attests, this studio was used by poet Edwin Arlington Robinson during most of the 24 summers he spent at MacDowell. Perhaps most famously, Thornton Wilder put the finishing…

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