L'Tanya, Melba Foppe, and other women, Los Angeles, 1940s

Item Overview

Title

L'Tanya, Melba Foppe, and other women, Los Angeles, 1940s

Date Created

[1940s?]

Date

1940/1949

Language

No linguistic content

Collection

Walter L. Gordon, Jr./William C. Beverly, Jr. Collection

Notes

Summary

LaTanya Griffin (or "L'Tanya," or "L'Tanya Martinique") was a society woman, a model and a fashion designer. In her early twenties, she was awarded a contract by the Guild Studios to design gowns for Ida Lapino. She was contracted to with the Edward D. Wood Production company to design gowns for 20 of its films in 1954, making her the first African American designer to have a contract with a Hollywood film studio. She and Earl Griffin divorced in 1949.
Melba Foppe was Walter Gordon's secretary for at least 20 years.

Description

All information concerning the content and description of the image was provided by Walter Gordon. Walter L. Gordon, Jr. was an African American attorney in Los Angeles.
LaTanya Griffin is 3rd from the right, and Melba Foppe is at the far right.

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph : b&w

Keywords

Genre

Black-and-white photographs

Names

Foppe, Melba
Griffin, L'Tanya, 1919-1996

Location

California--Los Angeles

Resource type

still image

Subjects

People