Toni FrissellToni Frissell

Toni Frissell, or Antoinette Frissell Bacon, (March Toni Frissell, or Antoinette Frissell Bacon, (March 10, 1907 - April 17, 1988) was an American 10, 1907 - April 17, 1988) was an American

photographer, known for her fashion photographer, known for her fashion photography, World War II photographs, photography, World War II photographs,

portraits of famous Americans and Europeans, portraits of famous Americans and Europeans, children, and women from all walks of lifechildren, and women from all walks of life..

PersonalPersonal Daughter of Lewis Fox Frissell and Antoinette Wood Montgomery, Daughter of Lewis Fox Frissell and Antoinette Wood Montgomery,

Granddaughter of Algernon Sydney Frissell; founder and president Granddaughter of Algernon Sydney Frissell; founder and president of the Fifth Avenue Bank of New York, Great-Granddaughter of of the Fifth Avenue Bank of New York, Great-Granddaughter of Mary Whitney Phelps and Governor of Missouri; John S. Phelps. Mary Whitney Phelps and Governor of Missouri; John S. Phelps. Descendant (GG Granddaughter) of Elisha Phelps: US Descendant (GG Granddaughter) of Elisha Phelps: US Representative from Connecticut (1819-21, 1825-29). Descendant Representative from Connecticut (1819-21, 1825-29). Descendant (GGG Granddaughter) of Maj. Gen. Noah Phelps: Revolutionary (GGG Granddaughter) of Maj. Gen. Noah Phelps: Revolutionary War hero. Sister of Phelps Montgomery Frissell and Filmmaker War hero. Sister of Phelps Montgomery Frissell and Filmmaker Lewis Varick Frissell who was killed in Newfoundland during the Lewis Varick Frissell who was killed in Newfoundland during the filming of “The Viking” in 1931.filming of “The Viking” in 1931.

Toni Frissell died of Alzheimer's disease on April 17, 1988, in a Toni Frissell died of Alzheimer's disease on April 17, 1988, in a Long Island nursing home. Her husband, Francis M. Bacon 3d, of Long Island nursing home. Her husband, Francis M. Bacon 3d, of Bacon, Stevenson & Company, predeceased her. She is survived Bacon, Stevenson & Company, predeceased her. She is survived by a daughter, Sidney Bacon Stafford; a son, Varick Bacon; by a daughter, Sidney Bacon Stafford; a son, Varick Bacon; grandchildren Montgomery Bacon Brookfield, Susan Brent Loyer, grandchildren Montgomery Bacon Brookfield, Susan Brent Loyer, and Alexandra Bacon; and great-grandchildren Montgomery Bacon and Alexandra Bacon; and great-grandchildren Montgomery Bacon Brookfield, Jr., Samuel Huntington Brookfield, Holly Brent Brookfield, Jr., Samuel Huntington Brookfield, Holly Brent Brookfield, Gregory Vanderbilt Brookfield, Cadence Frissell Brookfield, Gregory Vanderbilt Brookfield, Cadence Frissell Brookfield, Laura Loyer, Varick Loyer, and Margot Loyer.Brookfield, Laura Loyer, Varick Loyer, and Margot Loyer.

Pre-war careerPre-war career

Antoinette Frissell was born in 1907 in New York Antoinette Frissell was born in 1907 in New York City, New York, but took photos under the name City, New York, but took photos under the name Toni Frissell, even after her marriage to Toni Frissell, even after her marriage to Manhattan socialite McNeil Bacon. She worked Manhattan socialite McNeil Bacon. She worked with many famous photographers of the day, as with many famous photographers of the day, as an apprentice to Cecil Beaton, and with advice an apprentice to Cecil Beaton, and with advice from Edward Steichen. Her initial job, as a fashion from Edward Steichen. Her initial job, as a fashion photographer for Vogue in 1931, was due to photographer for Vogue in 1931, was due to Condé Montrose Nast personally. She later took Condé Montrose Nast personally. She later took photographs for Harper's Bazaar. Her fashion photographs for Harper's Bazaar. Her fashion photos, even of evening gowns and such, were photos, even of evening gowns and such, were often notable for their outdoor settings, often notable for their outdoor settings, emphasizing active women.emphasizing active women.

World War IIWorld War II In 1941, Frissell volunteered her photographic In 1941, Frissell volunteered her photographic

services to the American Red Cross. Later she services to the American Red Cross. Later she worked for the Eighth Army Air Force and became worked for the Eighth Army Air Force and became the official photographer of the Women's Army the official photographer of the Women's Army Corps. On their behalf, she took thousands of Corps. On their behalf, she took thousands of images of nurses, front-line soldiers, WACs, images of nurses, front-line soldiers, WACs, African-American airmen, and orphaned children. African-American airmen, and orphaned children. She traveled to the European front twice. Her She traveled to the European front twice. Her moving photographs of military women and moving photographs of military women and African American fighter pilots in the elite 332d African American fighter pilots in the elite 332d Fighter Group (the "Tuskegee Airmen") were used Fighter Group (the "Tuskegee Airmen") were used to encourage public support for women and to encourage public support for women and African Americans in the military.African Americans in the military.

After the warAfter the war In the 1950's, she took informal portraits of the In the 1950's, she took informal portraits of the

famous and powerful in the United States and Europe, famous and powerful in the United States and Europe, including Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and including Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, and worked for Sports John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, and worked for Sports Illustrated and Life magazines. Continuing her interest Illustrated and Life magazines. Continuing her interest in active women and sports, she was the first woman in active women and sports, she was the first woman on the staff of Sports Illustrated in 1953, and on the staff of Sports Illustrated in 1953, and continued to be one of very few female sport continued to be one of very few female sport photographers for several decades.photographers for several decades.

In later work she concentrated on photographing In later work she concentrated on photographing women from all walks of life, often as a commentary women from all walks of life, often as a commentary on the human condition.on the human condition.

BooksBooks

Her photographs illustrated:Her photographs illustrated: A Child's Garden of Verses (1944) A Child's Garden of Verses (1944) Bermuda:The Happy Island (1946)Bermuda:The Happy Island (1946) Mother Goose (1948)Mother Goose (1948) The King Ranch, 1939-1944 (1965)The King Ranch, 1939-1944 (1965) Tethered, by Amy MacKinnon Tethered, by Amy MacKinnon

(August 2008).(August 2008).

Babe Paley Babe Paley