Monroe Marilyn

Marilyn Monroe at 13 Superb Glee Club Photo, Signed by Club Members

An original vintage gelatin silver photograph of Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), future Hollywood starlet, in a Los Angeles, California all-girls' junior high school choir, ca. May 1940. 13-year-old Norma Jeane Mortenson appears at the center of the photograph (more particulars below.) The photograph is written in stone as "Emerson Girls Glee Club. - May 1940" at bottom. Thirteen singers have signed the photograph (once belonging to an unknown fellow member of the choir) verso. Expected light surface wear, else near fine. 9.875" x 7.75".

In May 1940, Norma Jeane Mortenson posed with 77 fellow members of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High School Girls Glee Club on the bleachers outside their public junior high school (still in operation today under the name of the Emerson Community Charter School.) Norma Jeane can be found at dead center, in the fourth row from the top, and seven girls in from the left. Some of Norma Jeane's classmates have signed and inscribed messages verso; their names are: "Capitolee Roberts"; "Barbara Holler"; "Jacqueline Sterling"; "Mary Kadota"; "Marilyn Cannon"; "Marcia Garbus"; "Barbara Cameron"; "Nancy Moon"; "Ida Darlington", and others.

Norma Jeane had moved in with foster parents Doc and Grace Goddard on a more permanent basis in February 1940, marking the beginning of a period of stability in the young girl's troubled childhood. Norma Jeane's junior high school classmates recall that she was somewhat of a loner but well-liked. She took an interest in hair and clothes, and loved to dance.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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