Bettie Page Collection
Scope and Contents
The Bettie Page Collection contains fanzines, comic books, and publications related to the modeling and acting career of Page. Currently, items are grouped by title and, when possible, organized by issue number or chronologically within title.
There are 4 series in this collection.
Series 1, The Betty Pages: All nine issues of the fanzine created by Greg Theakston beginning in 1987. Issue #3 is a reprint, but otherwise these are first edition printings.
Series 2, Bettie Page Comics: Various comic book titles featuring Bettie Page from 1991-1997.
Series 3, Betty Page Private Peeks: All four issues featuring photographs of Bettie Page, many of which were "private" photos published for the first time.
Series 4, Fond Memories: A complete run of this newsletter, including some special issues, created by and for Bettie Page fans. Fond Memories started in 1991, and each issue features reprints of classic Page magazine covers and pictorials, letters from fans and collectors, original art and a wealth of information about Page as well as other pin-up models. Instead of numbers, each issue is labled by letters of the alphabet (A, B, C...), and contain reprints from magazines that start with that letter.
Dates
- Creation: 1978 - 1997
Access Restrictions
This material contains explicit content. You must be at least 18 years old or have permission of a guardian to view this material.
The physical materials from this collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives. Materials should be requested two to three days in advance to facilitate easier access. Contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu to schedule an appointment.
Biographical / Historical
Bettie Mae Page (April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008) was a model mostly known for her pin-up work in the 1950s. She was born in Kingsport, Tennessee but partially grew up in Nashville. She graduated from Hume Fogg High School as class Salutatorian in 1940. Page received a scholarship to attend George Peabody College, where she studied education. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944.
After a brief marriage to William E. Neal, Page moved to New York City in 1947 to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. In 1950, an NYPD officer named Jerry Tibbs suggested that Page become a pin-up model. Page entered the field of "glamour photography" as a camera club model, working initially with photographer Cass Carr. Her greatest success occurred between 1951 and 1957 when she began modeling for photographer and filmmaker Irving Klaw. Page's modeling and short film roles under Klaw featured BDSM and dominatrix themes. Page became one of the first famous bondage models.
In 1959, Page retired from modeling and converted to Christianity. She worked for Christian organizations and for Reverend Billy Graham. She resettled in Nashville briefly in 1963 before moving to Florida in 1966. Eventually, she found her way to Southern California and endured mental health issues.
By the 1980s, there was increasingly renewed interest in Page's earlier modeling and erotic photography work. Greg Theakston's fanzine called The Betty Pages recounted stories of her life and shared photographs. This fanzine among other fandom works, comics, and Page-related products helped revive her mainstream popularity. In her final years, she attempted to recoup some of the profits being made with her likeness. She died of a heart attack on December 6, 2008.
A historical marker honoring Page's life and legacy was erected at Hume Fogg High School in Nashville in 2023.
Full Extent
2 Linear Feet (2 Hollinger boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Geographic
Topical
Uniform Title
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Bettie Page Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Calise
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Special Collections Library
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu
About this Site
This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.
Requesting Materials
Each finding aid contains a link to request materials from the collections. Collections can also be requested by emailing the repository directly through the library website. Each repository has its own location, hours, and contact information. Please consult the repository with questions about using the materials. Collections are non-circulating and must be used in the repository’s reading room. In many cases, the collections are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval.