Two years ago, I met the woman of everyone's dreams. her name was Roma Whitney, and she became one of the original Breck Girls in 1937, when she was 17. Hers was the face that launched the Breck Company's first national advertising campaign in 1946, and her image was registered as the company's trademark in 1951. Her haloed blonde profile, the dynamic tension between her defiantly uplifted chin and her downcast eyes, spoke to me across a gulf of more than 50 years, and I couldn't help but wonder what message her image had carried to the women of her day.
As one of a team of archivists responsible for acquiring 20th-century advertising history records for the Archives Center of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, I am accustomed to having my head turned by some of the millions of pieces preserved in the museum's collections. The Breck Girls collection was one I simply couldn't resist.
I first saw their pastel portraits when, in 1998, following initial contacts by Nance Briscoe, a colleague whose mother was a Breck Girl, I acquired original Breck advertising art and print advertising from Dial Corporation, owner of the brand since 1990.
The Breck Girls portraits were born during the Depression and came of age in the 1940s and '50s, times that shook cherished values, including long-held beliefs about the roles of men and women. Advertising executives responded by crafting and presenting idealized images of an American woman they thought everyone could love, a woman both desirable and chaste. These images from our Breck Girls collection testify to the tenacity of that ideal.
I also discovered that Breck Girls were and are real women. I've heard from about a dozen who admit they still sometimes think of themselves as Breck Girls, and it's that connection between the real and the ideal that intrigues me most.
In 1936, Edward Breck, son of the founder of the Springfield, Massachusetts, shampoo company, engaged the services of Charles Sheldon, a commercial artist living in the area. Sheldon's early portraits for Breck depicted provocative, even sensual, female poses executed in pastels, with soft focus and haloes of light and color to create highly romantic images of feminine beauty and purity. Sheldon and his successor, Ralph William Williams, perfected a vision of American womanhood that resonated powerfully for more than 50 years. Today the shampoo is still around but the Breck girls are a part of history.
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Comments (25)
I believe I have a painting of a Breck Girl. It is on masonite and measures 15 x 19 inches. It is not signed on the front but has what I believe to be a signature on the back. How can I find out if it is an actual pinting of a Breck Girl?
Posted by Connie Atha on November 1,2012 | 09:42 PM
I loved the portraits of the Breck Girls and wrote to Mr. Williams in 1974. He very graciously responded in a letter dated December 30, 1974. I still have the letter in its original envelope.
Posted by Irene von Brockdorff on January 11,2012 | 12:08 AM
I have an original pastal done by Ralph William Williams. Signed and Dated 1956. It is one of 5 in my family. My mother-in-law had the pastels done of all her children. The is framed, signed and dated. Any idea of the value?
Posted by Cindy Walsh on January 10,2012 | 02:10 PM
Longshot here folks. I am trying to find a magazine that carried a picture of a beautiful little girl with bright red hair and she was advertising Breck Shampoo. This was somewhere around 1978. The little girls first name was Faith and that year when my own little girl was born in May, we named her Faith Ann. I'd love to find that picture to show her now or possibly get it framed for her for Christmas. Does anyone have any info or ideas. Any help appreciated.
Posted by Debra Dean on December 5,2011 | 12:15 AM
Please let me know if you have any information on a little girl in the March 1952 Woman's Home Journal as a Breck model. She is wearing a yellow dress with a while collar. She is viewed sideways and is looking down. She looks identical to my little girl.
Posted by Sheila Galbraith on October 13,2011 | 10:37 AM
my daughter was born in 1962 and i believe her picture as a breck girl appeared on the back cover of a magazine in the early 1960's..she had on a cowgirl outfit..how can i research this picture..i think the studio that took the pictures submitted it to breck, but cannot be certain..any info will be appreciated
Posted by darlene stallings on August 25,2011 | 01:33 PM
I have an original painting by Mr R. W. williams available for sale, dated 1945.If anyone knows how I can put it on tha art market plese let me know, thanks.
Posted by Ramses Noriega on August 24,2011 | 07:09 PM
My mother was a breck girl in the 50's. Her name was Carol Farnsworth from Ogden, Ut. Blonde hair, blue eyes. How would I get a copy of her breck girl advertising?
Posted by Lisa Coad on July 24,2011 | 03:44 AM
My mom is Marilyn Skelton, one of Mr. Sheldon's early Breck Girls, and in my opinion, one of the loveliest :-)
Does anyone have any pictures of her they could copy and share with me and my siblings? My mom was offered the originals back in the 60's but didn't have the ego or interest in having them. Now, at 82, she would love to have the picture memories of that time in her life, and of her as a Breck Girl. Yes, she's still beautiful!!!
Thanks to anyone who can help me with this.
Carol Patch
carol@patchcreative.com
Just a p.s. -- My mom started her "career" as a copywriter for Mr. Sheldon. I have spent the past 32 years as a copywriter for Boston area ad agencies. Love my career, but sad to say, no one ever "discovered" me as their next great model for their historic and successful advertising campaign!!!
Posted by Carol Patch on June 3,2011 | 10:19 AM
I have a friend who has a copy of one of the early Breck girls and would love to know who she was and the year she was drawn. The child is in profile, red dress with white color and she has beautiful strawberry blond curls.
My friend is in her 80's and looked a lot like the drawing. Her parents always called her their "Breck girl" because she resembled the little girl in the ad.
My friend believes that this drawing may be from 1936 or 1937. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
Jane
Posted by Jane Phillips on October 22,2010 | 09:32 PM
For Richard Strandskov ~
I just came by your reply to my post. If you are still interested in the two Breck Girl portraits that I have of Kim Basinger and Brooke Shields, feel free to contact me at Pelefw38@metrocast.net I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Faith Williams
Posted by Faith Williams on October 10,2010 | 12:48 PM
ndersomn. Are you sure that's asignature. Sh is also a pastel artist byt the way. I am writing her biography and would love to see the picture. She was also a Rockette and a Coca Cola girl.
Does anybody know about her Breck pictures?
Posted by Lois on September 25,2010 | 11:52 PM
My family hired Ralph William Williams to do portraits of family members in the 1940's.
We have signed pastels and oils that are signed and framed.
We would donate these to a museum that was displaying or showcasing Ralph William Williams works.
Posted by Gary Kramer on September 14,2010 | 03:12 PM
To Whom It May Concern:
One of the members of my church was an "original" Breck Girl in the 1940s and 1950s. Marilyn worked for Mr. Sheldon as a secretary and as a model.
If you are interested in contacting Marilyn, please contact me at my email address. You may find her portrait, for example, in the Women's Home Companion magazine in June, 1951, and In October, 1952. There were 10 others done of Marilyn by Mr. Sheldon.
Kind Regards,
Stephen York, Pastor
Stonington United Methodist Church
PO Box 460
Stonington, Maine 04681
Posted by Stephen York on August 17,2010 | 10:09 PM
My mother is the daughter of one of the Breck models and I believe that she was one herself. My mother’s last name before she was married was Armstrong. I am looking for pictures and any information that I can. Anything would be a great help.
Ryan Schueler
Posted by Ryan Schueler on August 11,2010 | 10:18 PM
I have 4 Breck girl orignal and signed portraits by Ralph William Williams. My father worked at American Cyanamid for the Breck divison. I'm interested in knowing the value and if there are any interested parties...?
Posted by Doug Sparks on July 10,2010 | 03:37 PM
Last I heard Joanne and Andrew Bockner were living in Roanoke, Va
Posted by richard BOTHMER on June 20,2010 | 03:11 PM
I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of Breck Girl Joanne Bockner (I believe Bockner could be a married name). She was a family friend when i was younger and would love to see her ads. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Kim Nantell on May 7,2010 | 01:00 PM
For:Faith Williams
I would be very interested in your original portraits. I have an original signed Ralph William Williams Breck girl and would love to add to my collection,,
Posted by Richard Strandskov on April 26,2010 | 07:08 PM
I was a Breck Girl in 1972 starting the tradition of children at Christmas. My grandfather was Ralph William Williams. I still have two of the original and most famous portraits...Brooke Shields (also part of the children at Christmas ads), and Kim Basinger. If anyone knows anyone who may be interested in these portraits, please contact me.
Thank you
Posted by Faith Williams on April 6,2010 | 04:40 PM
I have a lovely original painting of my mom in pastel and done by Ralph William Williams in the early 40's.
I keep it under my bed, out of the sunlight. Any suggestions?
Posted by Marilyn Handrahan on March 30,2010 | 11:00 PM
I have a lovely neighbor who was a Breck Girl. When she moved here her Breck Girl pictures were lost in the move. I would love to surprise her with a copy of her picture. How would I go about finding it?
Posted by Linda Edmiston on March 21,2010 | 09:57 AM
I always liked the Breck ad that was definitely after 1970-it was the back view of a woman sitting at a vanity table with long brunette hair. Her back was bare.
Does anyone know where I can find that print?
Posted by Betsy on March 20,2010 | 03:20 PM
I have a cousin who was a Breck girl 1955 to 1960 - cant remember the exact year. I was wondering if someone had photos dating back to late 50's. I would love to have a copy.
Posted by Maria on November 19,2009 | 04:54 PM
Hello, We are not entirely sure, but believe that we have orginal Breck Girl pastels. This is based on the fact that my wife's father worked in the RD department of American Cyanamid in New Jersy as a chemist in 1965. He eventually moved west and worked for Redkin Hair Products. In any event he left these pastels to his daughter after his death. One is unsigned and the other is signed Anderson. They are framed by cardboard and have a clear plastic cover. The colors are soft and the detail is amazing. We can e-mail pictures of the pastels if necessary. Thank You, Bryan Gorman
Posted by bryan Gorman on February 23,2009 | 06:14 PM