Miss Pittsburg '25 Greets Miss Pittsburg '26. 8/28/26

1926

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Miss Pittsburg '25 Greets Miss Pittsburg '26. 8/28/26

Title
Miss Pittsburg '25 Greets Miss Pittsburg '26. 8/28/26
Creator
J. R. Hunter
Date
1926
Identifier
20100529-ocl-0970
Source Identifier
None
Description
Mildred Walker, Miss Pittsburgh of 1925, congratulates the 1926 winner, Thelma Williams. A graduate and resident of Bellevue High School, Mildred moved out to California after her win as Miss Pittsburgh to try her luck in the film industry. While she appeared in two films, Mildred did not have a successful movie career. She would enroll in college and work as an usher to pay for her tuition. In 1931 she wed California farmer Frank Whitsett. Thelma Williams lived an interesting life as well. After going to another pageant in Atlantic City, she got married to Jesse Gray, who worked at the same school as she did. Their marriage did not last long before Gray sued for divorce. He asked for $100,000 dollars in an alienation suit against Royce Grimm, who worked as a beauty contest promoter. Gray claimed that Grimm influenced Thelma into leaving him. While all of this was going on, Grimm took Thelma on a trip and was accused of violating the Mann Act, because he transported her across state lines. Both were arrested after Thelma's mother turned her in. By 1933, everything had been sorted out, as evidenced by the article in the Pittsburgh Press from February 8. Thelma Williams did marry Royce Grimm after her divorce went through. They had two children, Royce and Dona Gay. The article, which discusses her domestic bliss, only mentions that she sought a divorce, but not her husband's suit or any of the drama associated with the whole affair.
Type
still image
Genre
photographs
Subject
Oakmont (Allegheny County, Pa.)
Willows (Oakmont, Pa.)
Walker, Mildred
William, Thelma
Miss Pittsburgh--Pennsylvania--Oakmont
Pageants--Pennsylvania--Oakmont
Source
Oakmont Carnegie Library Archives, Hunter Collection
Contributor
Oakmont Carnegie Library
Collection
Oakmont Historical Image Collection
Rights Information
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