Agnes George de Mille

In 1905, Agnes George de Mille was born into a show-business family. Her father was a playwright, but it was her Hollywood director uncle who was immortalized by the phrase, “I’m ready for my close-up ...” Following their footsteps into the business, de Mille became a dancer. A successful ballerina, it was as a choreographer that de Mille scored her greatest triumphs.

During her career, she choreographed for the American Ballet Theater and wrote many ballets. Several of her musical comedies and Hollywood productions are still well known today, such as “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Through her work, de Mille changed the face of modern American dance by incorporating classical ballet techniques with American dance forms, and revolutionized musical theater by using choreography to both advance the plot and define characters.

During the course of her life, de Mille also lectured and wrote extensively, publishing 12 books. Following a crippling stroke in 1979, she wrote “Reprieve,” chronicling her recovery. She received numerous honorary degrees, the New York Critics Award, the Antoinette Perry Award, the Dancing Masters Award of Merit, the Capezio Award and the Handel Medallion for Achievement in the Arts. She was named Woman of the Year by the American Newspaper Women’s Guild in 1946 and was named to the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1973.

De Mille died in New York City in 1993.

BLACKWELL RECIPIENTS

• May 16, 2021
  Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

• February 3, 2021
  Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

• January 22, 2015
  Dr. Janet L. Yellen

• November 10, 2013
  The Most Reverend Doctor Katharine Jefferts Schori

• October 27, 2011
  Eunice Kennedy Shriver

• April 23, 2009
  Rabbi Sally J. Priesand

• April 24, 2008
  Dr. Wangari Maathai Sc.D.'94, P '94, P '96

• April 27, 2007
  Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer '64, Sc.D. '94

• September 7, 2004
  Bishop Barbara Clementine Harris

• September 9, 2003
  Loretta C. Ford

• September 4, 2001
  Madeleine K. Albright

• May 15, 1998
  Billie Jean King

• February 10, 1996
  Wilma Mankiller

• September 23, 1993
  Barbara Jordan

• September 27, 1991
  Margaret Chase Smith

• February 22, 1991
  Dr. Antonia C. Novello

• February 19, 1988
  Barbara Aronstein Black

• October 9, 1985
  Cicely Saunders

• March 8, 1985
  Sandra Day O’Connor

• February 11, 1984
  Hannah Holborn Gray

• February 26, 1982
  Agnes George de Mille

• February 15, 1980
  Mary Douglas Leakey

• September 30, 1977
  Mary S. Calderone

• October 3, 1975
  Antonia Brico

• Janurary 23, 1974
  Frances Keller Harding

• May 28, 1973
  Judith Graham Pool

• June 8, 1972
  Marian Anderson

• April 10, 1972
  Mary Lasker

• June 13, 1971
  Mina Rees

• June 14, 1970
  Helen Brooke Taussig

• June 15, 1969
  Georgiana Sibley

• June 16, 1968
  Constance Baker Motley

• September 8, 1967
  Catharine Macfarlane

• July 10, 1966
  Fe del Mundo

• June 13, 1965
  Annette LeMeitour-Kaplun

• June 14, 1964
  Margaret Mead

• June 9, 1963
  Marty Mann

• June 10, 1962
  Frances Perkins

• June 18,1961
  Leona Baumgartner

• June 12, 1960
  Miki Sawada

• June 14, 1959
  Elisabeth Luce Moore

• September 27, 1958
  Gwendolyn Grant Mellon