Barbara Handman
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|American activist and political consultant (1928–2013)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Barbara Handman
| other_names = Bobbie
| birth_name = Barbara Ann Schlein
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|3|11}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = Arts activist, political consultant
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|11|14|1928|3|11}}
| death_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Wynn Handman|1950}}
| children = 2
}}
Barbara "Bobbie" Handman (March 11, 1928[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/fdr/appeal.htm Doug Struck, "The FDR Memorial's Deeper Meaning", Washington Post, May 1, 1997.] – November 14, 2013) was an American political consultant and arts activist, known for her role in preserving historic Broadway theater houses. She was the executive vice-president and New York City office director of People for the American Way from 1981 until 2003.[http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/non-profit-businesses/310310-1.html Alvin H. Reiss, "Key ally helps arts in battle over NEA", Fund Raising Management, June 1, 1992.]{{cite web |url=http://www.ack.net/Handmanobituary111413.html |title=Handman obituary 111413 |website=www.ack.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120053515/http://www.ack.net/Handmanobituary111413.html |archive-date=November 20, 2013}}
Formative years and family
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1928,[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/nyregion/20wynn.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Melena Ryzik, "Nearly 60 Years and Counting, Working on the Art of Theater", The New York Times, May 20, 2007.] Handman was the wife of stage director and teacher Wynn Handman.
Handman's daughter, Laura Handman, is married to Harold M. Ickes.
Career
In 1982, Handman helped to found Save the Theatres, an organization that tried unsuccessfully to prevent the razing of the Morosco, Helen Hayes, and Bijou Theaters.The name of the organization was "Save the Theatres, Inc., as noted in court papers. See [http://www.arch.ksu.edu/jwkplan/cases/shubert.pdf Shubert Organization, Inc. v. Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York and Save the Theatres, Inc., Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department, May 16, 1991, accessed March 10, 2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521025233/http://www.arch.ksu.edu/jwkplan/cases/shubert.pdf |date=May 21, 2013 }}[http://www.lhparch.com/project.aspx?cat=&id=28 "Proposal to Save Morosco and Helen Hayes Theaters"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520041113/http://www.lhparch.com/project.aspx?cat=&id=28 |date=May 20, 2015 }}, LHP Architects, accessed March 10, 2013 In 1988, the group succeeded in having twenty-eight Broadway houses designated as landmarks by the New York City Board of Estimate.[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/14/theater/theaters-as-landmarks-who-likes-the-ruling-who-doesn-t-and-why.html?pagewanted=all Jeremy Gerard, "Theaters as Landmarks: Who Likes the Ruling, Who Doesn't, and Why", The New York Times, March 14, 1988.]
Handman served on the board of the Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation and on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission.[http://www.mith2.umd.edu/WomensStudies/GovernmentPolitics/WhiteHouse/Nominations+Appointments/handman-barbara White House press release, Sept. 22, 1994.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606010536/http://www.mith2.umd.edu/WomensStudies/GovernmentPolitics/WhiteHouse/Nominations%2BAppointments/handman-barbara |date=June 6, 2010 }}
She was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998 for her work as an arts advocate.
Death
References
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External links
- [http://blog.pfaw.org/content/remembering-bobbie-handman PFAW tribute] to Handman
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 1990s}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Handman, Barbara}}
Category:American political consultants
Category:People for the American Way people