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| birth_date = February 2, 1906
| birth_date = February 2, 1906
| birth_place = New York
| birth_place = New York
| death_date = January 1988
| death_date = {{death date and age|1988|1|20|1906|2|2}}
| death_place = New York
| death_place = New York
| nationality =
| nationality =
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== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Mary Brosnan was born in 1906 in New York, the daughter of Michael Brosnan. She attended the Sacred Heart Convent school and studied art at the [[National Academy of Design]] school.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36570396/mary_brosnan_1966/|title=New Mannequin is 'Happiness Girl', says Mary Brosnan, New York Designer|last=Miller|first=Joy|date=February 27, 1966|work=The Bridgeport Post|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=30|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Mary Brosnan was born in 1906 in New York. She attended the Sacred Heart Convent school and studied art at the [[National Academy of Design]] school.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36570396/mary_brosnan_1966/|title=New Mannequin is 'Happiness Girl', says Mary Brosnan, New York Designer|last=Miller|first=Joy|date=February 27, 1966|work=The Bridgeport Post|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=30|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
Brosnan was portrait painter by training. During the [[Great Depression]], she worked as a window dresser, and when the need arose for a more glamorous mannequin, she created one.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36571522/mary_brosnan_1958/|title=Manikins Made a Mint for Her|last=Reef|first=Betty|date=February 17, 1958|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She and sculptor Kay Sullivan founded Mary Brosnan Inc., in 1941, providing American-made mannequins to stores during [[World War II]], when European mannequins were difficult to import. Brosnan moved her manufacturing from Manhattan<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Store Executives Mary Brosnan Guests|date=February 12, 1942|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=|page=34|via=ProQuest}}</ref> to Long Island in 1947.<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Mary Brosnan, Inc., to Move to Long Island to Double Production|date=March 11, 1947|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=|page=76|via=ProQuest}}</ref> Also in 1947, her company acquired a patent for a self-standing mannequin, requiring no external stand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Patents Device to Make Mannequins Self-Standing: Invention To Eliminate Use Of Visible Supporting Rod Assigned To Mary Brosnan, Inc.— Production To Take Some Time|date=April 8, 1947|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=|page=69|via=ProQuest}}</ref> Her 1948 mannequins became associated with the "New Look" of [[Christian Dior (fashion house)|Christian Dior]], because they were well-matched in proportions (broad shoulders, slim hips), and Brosnan's mannequins often used in Dior window displays.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UTMrDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA106&ots=d1BEOwka3r&dq=%22Mary%20Brosnan%22%20mannequin&pg=PA106#v=onepage&q=%22Mary%20Brosnan%22%20mannequin&f=false|title=Visual Merchandising: The Image of Selling|last=Strege|first=Gayle|date=2017-07-05|publisher=Routledge|year=|isbn=9781351537469|editor-last=Iarocci|editor-first=Louisa|location=|pages=106-108|language=en|chapter=The Store Mannequin: An Evolving Idea of Beauty}}</ref>
Brosnan was portrait painter by training. During the [[Great Depression]], she worked as a window dresser, and when the need arose for a more glamorous mannequin, she created one.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36571522/mary_brosnan_1958/|title=Manikins Made a Mint for Her|last=Reef|first=Betty|date=February 17, 1958|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She and sculptor Kay Sullivan founded Mary Brosnan Inc., in 1941, providing American-made mannequins to stores during [[World War II]], when European mannequins were difficult to import. Brosnan moved her manufacturing from Manhattan<ref>{{Cite news|title=Store Executives Mary Brosnan Guests|date=February 12, 1942|work=Women's Wear Daily|page=34|via=ProQuest}}</ref> to Long Island in 1947.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mary Brosnan, Inc., to Move to Long Island to Double Production|date=March 11, 1947|work=Women's Wear Daily|page=76|via=ProQuest}}</ref> Also in 1947, her company acquired a patent for a self-standing mannequin, requiring no external stand.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Patents Device to Make Mannequins Self-Standing: Invention To Eliminate Use Of Visible Supporting Rod Assigned To Mary Brosnan, Inc.— Production To Take Some Time|date=April 8, 1947|work=Women's Wear Daily|page=69|via=ProQuest}}</ref> Her 1948 mannequins became associated with the "New Look" of [[Christian Dior (fashion house)|Christian Dior]], because they were well-matched in proportions (broad shoulders, slim hips), and Brosnan's mannequins often used in Dior window displays.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UTMrDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Mary+Brosnan%22+mannequin&pg=PA106|title=Visual Merchandising: The Image of Selling|last=Strege|first=Gayle|date=2017-07-05|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781351537469|editor-last=Iarocci|editor-first=Louisa|pages=106–108|language=en|chapter=The Store Mannequin: An Evolving Idea of Beauty}}</ref>


Brosnan's business was a success, and she was described as one of the "top American businesswomen" in a 1958 profile.<ref name=":1" /> In 1962, Mary Brosnan Inc., a division of D. G. Williams,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36572374/mary_brosnan_1977/|title=Mannequins: First, You Find a Face|last=Taylor|first=Angela|date=December 6, 1977|work=Intelligencer Journal|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=17|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> occupied a 35,000 square-foot plant in [[Long Island City]], with sculptors' studios, casting rooms, drying ovens and other facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Mary Brosnan Expands|date=July 24, 1962|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=|page=13|via=ProQuest}}</ref> In 1964 the factory was producing 150-200 mannequins a week. "I often wonder where the old mannequins end up," Brosnan mused in an interview that year. "Sometimes I imagine there's a big desert somewhere out in Arizona, where they are piled up like used cars."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36566735/mary_brosnan_1964/|title=She's So Pretty They Keep a Mold|last=Sheppard|first=Eugenia|date=June 17, 1964|work=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=33|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Brosnan's business was a success, and she was described as one of the "top American businesswomen" in a 1958 profile.<ref name=":1" /> In 1962, Mary Brosnan Inc., a division of D. G. Williams,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36572374/mary_brosnan_1977/|title=Mannequins: First, You Find a Face|last=Taylor|first=Angela|date=December 6, 1977|work=Intelligencer Journal|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=17|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> occupied a 35,000 square-foot plant in [[Long Island City]], with sculptors' studios, casting rooms, drying ovens and other facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mary Brosnan Expands|date=July 24, 1962|work=Women's Wear Daily|page=13|via=ProQuest}}</ref> In 1964 the factory was producing 150-200 mannequins a week. "I often wonder where the old mannequins end up," Brosnan mused in an interview that year. "Sometimes I imagine there's a big desert somewhere out in Arizona, where they are piled up like used cars."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36566735/mary_brosnan_1964/|title=She's So Pretty They Keep a Mold|last=Sheppard|first=Eugenia|date=June 17, 1964|work=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=33|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


Brosnan won the [[Neiman Marcus Fashion Award|Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award]] in 1966. "She is the country's most eminent sculptress of the mannequins seen in store windows," explained one report about the award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36570775/mary_brosnan_1966/|title=Top Award Presented to Mannequin Creator|last=Hughes|first=Alice|date=February 19, 1966|work=Poughkeepsie Journal|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=4|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eN0CAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=Brosnan+manikins&source=bl&ots=TPXVs-tOXa&sig=ACfU3U1Ueg1uqka12z_nxDptpF_iCsEAeQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjG8IDhmvrkAhUFs54KHVoqDVMQ6AEwC3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=Brosnan%20manikins&f=false|title=Models of your Mind|last=Rosenthal|first=Richard|date=May 26, 1969|work=New York Magazine|access-date=September 30, 2019|last2=Sokol|first2=Jack|page=39}}</ref> Brosnan retired after 1973.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36571286/mary_brosnan_1973/|title=Fashion's Mannequins Nearly Real|date=September 23, 1973|work=Asbury Park Press|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=25|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Brosnan won the [[Neiman Marcus Fashion Award|Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award]] in 1966. "She is the country's most eminent sculptress of the mannequins seen in store windows," explained one report about the award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36570775/mary_brosnan_1966/|title=Top Award Presented to Mannequin Creator|last=Hughes|first=Alice|date=February 19, 1966|work=Poughkeepsie Journal|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=4|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eN0CAAAAMBAJ&dq=Brosnan+manikins&pg=PA39|title=Models of your Mind|last1=Rosenthal|first1=Richard|date=May 26, 1969|work=New York Magazine|access-date=September 30, 2019|last2=Sokol|first2=Jack|page=39}}</ref> In 1967 she made the mannequins for a show titled "The Art of Fashion" at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/metmuseum-The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_Bulletin_v_26_no_3_November_1967|title=The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin v 26 no 3 November 1967|last=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|date=1967|pages=152|language=en}}</ref> Brosnan retired after 1973.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36571286/mary_brosnan_1973/|title=Fashion's Mannequins Nearly Real|date=September 23, 1973|work=Asbury Park Press|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=25|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
In 1956,<ref name=":1" /> Mary Brosnan married a Vienna-born importer, Robert Kratschmer.<ref name=":0" /> She died January 20, 1988, aged 81 years, from cancer, in New York.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/23/obituaries/mary-brosnan-kratschmer-mannequin-designer81.html|title=Mary Brosnan Kratschmer: Mannequin Designer, 81|last=|first=|date=January 23, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=10|via=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Mary Brosnan|date=January 21, 1988|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=|page=18|via=ProQuest}}</ref>
In 1956,<ref name=":1" /> Mary Brosnan married a Vienna-born importer, Robert Kratschmer.<ref name=":0" /> She died January 20, 1988, aged 81 years, from cancer, in New York.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/23/obituaries/mary-brosnan-kratschmer-mannequin-designer81.html|title=Mary Brosnan Kratschmer: Mannequin Designer, 81|date=January 23, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 30, 2019|page=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mary Brosnan|date=January 21, 1988|work=Women's Wear Daily|page=18|via=ProQuest}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 00:49, 9 August 2024

Mary Brosnan
An older white woman, looking to the viewer's left.
Mary Brosnan, from a 1958 newspaper.
BornFebruary 2, 1906
New York
DiedJanuary 20, 1988(1988-01-20) (aged 81)
New York
Other namesMary Brosnan Kratschmer (after marriage)
Occupation(s)designer, businesswoman
AwardsNeiman-Marcus Fashion Award (1966)

Mary Brosnan (February 2, 1906 – January 20, 1988), also known as Mary Brosnan Kratschmer, was an American businesswoman and mannequin designer, winner of the Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award in 1966.

Early life

[edit]

Mary Brosnan was born in 1906 in New York. She attended the Sacred Heart Convent school and studied art at the National Academy of Design school.[1]

Career

[edit]

Brosnan was portrait painter by training. During the Great Depression, she worked as a window dresser, and when the need arose for a more glamorous mannequin, she created one.[2] She and sculptor Kay Sullivan founded Mary Brosnan Inc., in 1941, providing American-made mannequins to stores during World War II, when European mannequins were difficult to import. Brosnan moved her manufacturing from Manhattan[3] to Long Island in 1947.[4] Also in 1947, her company acquired a patent for a self-standing mannequin, requiring no external stand.[5] Her 1948 mannequins became associated with the "New Look" of Christian Dior, because they were well-matched in proportions (broad shoulders, slim hips), and Brosnan's mannequins often used in Dior window displays.[6]

Brosnan's business was a success, and she was described as one of the "top American businesswomen" in a 1958 profile.[2] In 1962, Mary Brosnan Inc., a division of D. G. Williams,[7] occupied a 35,000 square-foot plant in Long Island City, with sculptors' studios, casting rooms, drying ovens and other facilities.[8] In 1964 the factory was producing 150-200 mannequins a week. "I often wonder where the old mannequins end up," Brosnan mused in an interview that year. "Sometimes I imagine there's a big desert somewhere out in Arizona, where they are piled up like used cars."[9]

Brosnan won the Neiman-Marcus Fashion Award in 1966. "She is the country's most eminent sculptress of the mannequins seen in store windows," explained one report about the award.[10][11] In 1967 she made the mannequins for a show titled "The Art of Fashion" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[12] Brosnan retired after 1973.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1956,[2] Mary Brosnan married a Vienna-born importer, Robert Kratschmer.[1] She died January 20, 1988, aged 81 years, from cancer, in New York.[14][15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Miller, Joy (February 27, 1966). "New Mannequin is 'Happiness Girl', says Mary Brosnan, New York Designer". The Bridgeport Post. p. 30. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c Reef, Betty (February 17, 1958). "Manikins Made a Mint for Her". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. p. 11. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Store Executives Mary Brosnan Guests". Women's Wear Daily. February 12, 1942. p. 34 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ "Mary Brosnan, Inc., to Move to Long Island to Double Production". Women's Wear Daily. March 11, 1947. p. 76 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "Patents Device to Make Mannequins Self-Standing: Invention To Eliminate Use Of Visible Supporting Rod Assigned To Mary Brosnan, Inc.— Production To Take Some Time". Women's Wear Daily. April 8, 1947. p. 69 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ Strege, Gayle (2017-07-05). "The Store Mannequin: An Evolving Idea of Beauty". In Iarocci, Louisa (ed.). Visual Merchandising: The Image of Selling. Routledge. pp. 106–108. ISBN 9781351537469.
  7. ^ Taylor, Angela (December 6, 1977). "Mannequins: First, You Find a Face". Intelligencer Journal. p. 17. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Mary Brosnan Expands". Women's Wear Daily. July 24, 1962. p. 13 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Sheppard, Eugenia (June 17, 1964). "She's So Pretty They Keep a Mold". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. p. 33. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Hughes, Alice (February 19, 1966). "Top Award Presented to Mannequin Creator". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 4. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Rosenthal, Richard; Sokol, Jack (May 26, 1969). "Models of your Mind". New York Magazine. p. 39. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  12. ^ The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1967). The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin v 26 no 3 November 1967. p. 152.
  13. ^ "Fashion's Mannequins Nearly Real". Asbury Park Press. September 23, 1973. p. 25. Retrieved September 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Mary Brosnan Kratschmer: Mannequin Designer, 81". The New York Times. January 23, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "Mary Brosnan". Women's Wear Daily. January 21, 1988. p. 18 – via ProQuest.
[edit]
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