The second in the Wednesday History series is this old photo of Miss Columbia Heights, Dorothy Parker (not the writer). She went on to win Miss Washington and competed in the Miss America contest. She’s pictured here not at the Banneker pool but in Atlantic City. A commenter on Shorpy, where I found the photo, posted an old Washington Post article about it. Interestingly, she lives on Shepherd Street, which probably wouldn’t be considered Columbia Heights these days.
Dorothy Parker Captures City Beauty Crown
“Miss Washington of 1938” Wins From Field of 17 Contestants.
While the steamship Potomac steamed down the river on a moonlight cruise last night, Dorothy Parker, the former “Miss Columbia Heights,” was named Miss Washington 1938 and won her chance to compete in the national beauty contest in Atlantic City.
Miss Parker won from a final field of 17 girls selected in preliminary eliminations. She lives at 1228 Shepherd street northwest.
Judges of the contest were Lyle O’Rourke, president of the Junior Board of Commerce and drama critics from Washington newspapers. A holiday crowd watched as the girls paraded in bathing suits and then in evening gowns.
Others in the contest were Nadine Petrey, Betty Crown, Dale Simmons, Jeanette Tucker, Elizabeth McDonald, Betty Wax, Toni Mann, Betty Jean Smalley, Gere Dell Sale, Louise Emmerich, Beatrice Evert, Sylvia Berger, Dorothy Boston and Tempa Marshall.
The photo is from the Library of Congress and was taken by Harris and Ewing. You can see other history-related posts here, and the previous Wednesday History post, lacrosse at Cardozo, here.
