Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Audrey Munson

Role / Field:

Pioneering American model and actress, known as 'America's first supermodel.'

Born:

1891-06-08

Died:

1996-02-20

Century / Era:

1891s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Audrey Marie Munson (June 8, 1891 – February 20, 1996) was an American artist's model and film actress, considered to be "America's first supermodel." In her time, she was variously known as "Miss Manhattan", the "Panama–Pacific Girl", the "Exposition Girl" and "American Venus." She was the model or inspiration for more than twelve statues in New York City, and many others elsewhere. Munson appeared in four silent films, including unclothed in Inspiration (1915). She was one of the first American actresses to appear nude in a non-pornographic film. Long after she and everyone else of this generation shall have become dust, Audrey Munson, who posed for three-fifths of all the statuary of the Panama–Pacific exposition, will live in the bronzes and canvasses of the art centers of the world.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Audrey Marie Munson was born in Rochester, New York, on June 8, 1891, to Edgar Munson (1854–1945), who was a streetcar conductor and Western real estate speculator descended from English Puritans, and Katherine C. "Kittie" Mahoney (1862–1958), a daughter of John and Cecilia Mahoney, Irish immigrants. Her father was from Mexico, New York, and she later lived there. Her parents...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. P. Elkin — Contemporary (Born in 1891) (1891): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• Alexander Rodchenko — Contemporary (Born in 1891) (1891): Pioneering Constructivist artist, photographer, and designer of the Soviet era.
• Antonio Gramsci — Contemporary (Born in 1891) (1891): Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.
• 6ix9ine — Contemporary (Born in 1996) (1996): American rapper known for aggressive style and controversial public persona.
• A'ja Wilson — Contemporary (Born in 1996) (1996): Elite American WNBA star known for multiple MVP awards and championship success.
• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Died in 1996) (1996): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Abraham Maslow — Shared historical date (06-08 · Died) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alice Rahon — Shared historical date (06-08 · Born) (1904): French-born Mexican poet and painter whose work bridged surrealism and abstraction.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• 1891 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1891
• June 8 (06-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 8
• 1996 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1996
• February 20 (02-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 20

Frequently Asked Questions about Audrey Munson