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Background

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Anna Jane Stewart was born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1917. According to interviewee Barbara Walkley, with whom Jane Stewart had shared a workplace, Stewart was "not very tall; she had medium blonde or sandy brown hair, very nice eyes, a small to medium build" . . . "a presence; you had to look twice." [1] Besides the names of her family members: mother, Froan (Seibert) Stewart; father, Lawrence R. Stewart; and sister, Ruth; not much is known.

Stewart attended Randolph Macon - a women's college in Lynchburg, Virginia, then transferred to Ohio Wesleyan University to study history and education, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1939. During this time, she was involved in history and sociology clubs in addition to the Y.W.C.A and being a member of a sorority. She gave back to her school through monetary contributions and served on the board of directors during the mid 1960s. [7]


Public Relations career

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After graduating, Stewart spent five years as an assistant for press relations at Long Island Rail Road. In 1945 she became John W. Hill’s secretary at Hill and Knowlton. After five years at H&K, she left with top executive John G. Mapes and founded Group Attitudes Corp. in 1950.[4] Stewart is described as being ambitious and thus a risky career move such as the switch to Group Attitudes was reflective of her personality. They joined Hill & Knowlton when Group Attitudes was acquired in 1956, but the group continued to operate within the walls of H&K, and even had some exclusive clients.[5]

She retired in 1968.

Following a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Stewart committed suicide in Litchfield Park, Arizona.[6]

Notable Contributions

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Contributions to the development of the practice of PR: what did the person do that makes them worthy of being remembered?

Career highlights or controversies: things the person is best known for, whether positive contributions or controversial events

Legacy

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By her colleagues, Anna Jane Stewart is remembered as ambitious and incredible. By history, she is often overlooked completely. Stewart was a professional in a male-dominated field and executed her responsibilities seamlessly.