Eartha Kitt

Brief

     Kitt (1927-2008) rose from poverty in South Carolina, where she lived with relatives, to attend the High School of Performing Arts in New York before launching her career with Katherine Dunham's dance company. She became an international star renowned for her distinctive purring voice, feline grace, and multilingual performances, establishing herself as a symbol of seduction and sophistication with hits like "Santa Baby" (1953) and "C'est Si Bon." Her diverse career spanned Broadway, film, and television, including her memorable role as Catwoman in the 1960s Batman series. Kitt's career faced a significant setback in 1968 when her anti-Vietnam War statements at a White House luncheon led to CIA surveillance and an effective blacklisting in the U.S., though she later triumphantly returned to Broadway and television.

‍

Collections & Papers

Eartha Kitt - Thursday's Child Manuscript (GV026), The Archie Givens, Sr. Collection of African American Literature, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This collection contains and undated edited manuscript of Thursday's Child.

‍

Autobiographies

‍

‍