Frances Doherr Strurtevant

Inducted 1998

Deceased 

Frances Gibbons Doherr is thought to have been the first female radio station manager in the United States.  She was manager of WCAE (now WTAE) in Pittsburgh from 1928-1930.  The station was owned and operated by Gimbel Brothers Department Store in Pittsburgh. Her husband, Edward Doherr, was the buyer and manager of the radio department at Gimbels.

Doherr's responsibilities included booking talent for the station. Her assignments brought her in contact with well-known entertainers of the day who performed live on WCAE, including Graham McNamee, New York sports broadcaster; Phil Carlin, NBC announcer; Buddy Rogers, movie star; Ginger Rogers, entertainer; Tom Mix, cowboy; and Rin Tin Tin. Dick Powell, who later achieved fame as a screen actor, was a popular theatrical master of ceremony and entertainer who frequently performed on WCAE Radio.
 
Under Doherr's direction, the station featured a variety of programming including news bulletins, talks, plays, women's club news, children's programs, morning exercises, and musical performances.  From jazz to classical, WCAE's eclectic music programming included vocalists, piano recitals, brass and string quartets, and forty-piece orchestras, all performing live.  John Philip Sousa and his band made their radio debut on WCAE under her charge.

Because she was one of only a handful of women working in station management in the early days of radio, Doherr's position as manager provided more than the standard challenge.  According to The Pittsburgh Press, Doherr exercised the authority vested in her title.  Several articles describe her role in a local wavelength complaint, relating her preparation to be a star witness for the station and the first female station manager prepared to carry the complaint to the Federal Radio Commission in Washington.   Another press article relates her role in establishing the Welfare Fund of Pittsburgh, the first community financing campaign.  

Prior to being named station manager, Doherr was director of women's activities at the station and was an on air personality.  She was a contralto soloist as well as an announcer. In addition to her radio duties she sang with churches and at social functions. Before joining the station, Doherr worked in stock company acting and in journalism.   

After her career in radio, Doherr worked for the Beaver County Housing Authority and the Juvenile Court of Beaver County.  She served as president of the Pennsylvania Association on Probation, Parole and Correction.  She married Claude M. Sturtevant.