Perhaps Jeannette is best known for her role as First Lady of Arkansas during Winthrop Rockefeller’s two terms as governor (1967-1971). She also stood by Winthrop during difficult times as she loyally campaigned with her husband during the unsuccessful gubernatorial…
Despite enjoying a rural lifestyle on Arkansas’s remote Petit Jean Mountain, Jeannette and her family could not escape the people’s curiosity thanks to the famous Rockefeller last name. National news reporters kept track of the famous couple by conducting home…
In September 1956, Jeannette began her Arkansas community involvement by speaking to Little Rock’s Fine Arts Club on the subject of Colonial Williamsburg, her famous in-law’s passionate project. She also raised money for Arkansas’s U.S. Savings Bond program. From these…
Jeannette enjoyed rural life at Winrock Farms, located atop Arkansas’s picturesque Petit Jean Mountain, and took an active interest in the farm’s management and the surrounding community. She participated in the annual cattle sale, arranged for the comfort of visiting…
Jeannette Rockefeller was best known as Arkansas’s First Lady during her husband Winthrop Rockefeller’s time as governor. She successfully raised funds to build the Museum of Fine Arts (now Arkansas Arts Center) and worked with numerous mental health organizations over the years.
After the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, Harvey returned to Little Rock as his San Francisco apartment sustained major damage. His decades-long battle with tuberculosis ended in 1992, when he died on July 4 and was buried in Greers Chapel Cemetery,…
In October 1952, Harvey suffered a third bout of debilitating tuberculosis. By 1957, Harvey felt sufficiently strong enough to return to the stage and turned his sights on France and Germany. Upon his successful European performances, he moved back to New…
Unfortunately, Goodwin’s luck in the performing arts came to a halt in 1936 when he contracted pneumonia. Subsequent x-rays revealed that Goodwin had tuberculosis, a condition that required him to recover in a sanatorium from 1936 to 1941. Upon recovery,…
In 1934, Goodwin received his big break when Club Richman in New York City offered him a position with a salary equal to his government employment. Harvey’s good luck continued during his time at Club Richman when he secured the part of a female impersonator in Warner Brothers-Vitaphone musical comedy entitled The City Slicker.
(Harvey’s papers are referenced as ualr.ms.0112. Find out more by visiting the finding aid online.)
Harvey “Lee” Goodwin was a Little Rock native whose love of performance blossomed into a career as a professional female impersonator. Despite a lifelong battle with tuberculosis, he successfully performed in movies and on stages around the world.
