ABSTRACT
In the few instances a Black woman is mentioned, that woman is the public relations pioneer Inez Kaiser. Through an examination of historical documents and interviews with Inez Kaiser and her son, this chapter provides a look at the career of Inez Kaiser and its impact on both the industry and mid-twentieth century society. Kaiser achieved a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas and a master’s degree in home economics from Columbia University. Furthermore, she was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, for her contributions in home economics in the public schools of Missouri and for her achievements in public relations. While Kaiser’s early focus was promoting consumer brands, her later focus included promoting equal rights, especially for minority business owners. Her trajectory from publicist to activist is documented first-hand in the speeches, invitations, photographs and White House memoranda in her archives.
