Finding Aid to The HistoryMakers ® Video Oral History with Desiree Rogers

Overview of the Collection

Repository: The HistoryMakers®1900 S. Avenue , 60616 [email protected] www.thehistorymakers.com Creator: Rogers, Desiree Title: The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Dates: April 27, 2007 and February 20, 2008 Bulk Dates: 2007 and 2008 Physical 7 Betacame SP videocasettes (3:09:12). Description: Abstract: Corporate executive and entrepreneur Desiree Rogers (1959 - ) was the chief executive officer of Johnson Publishing Company, overseeing the publication of Ebony and Jet magazines. Rogers was interviewed by The HistoryMakers® on April 27, 2007 and February 20, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois. This collection is comprised of the original video footage of the interview. Identification: A2007_169 Language: The interview and records are in English.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Business executive and entrepreneur Desiree Glapion Rogers was born on June 16, 1959 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Roy Glapion, a politically active schoolteacher and his wife, Joyce Glapion. After graduating from New Orleans’ Sacred Heart High School in 1977, Rogers began her college work at Wellesley College and earned her B.A. degree in political science in 1981. In 1985, Rogers earned her M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School. Additionally, Rogers’ father was very active in the city’s Zulu Organization and served as its president from 1976 to 1988. Following in her father’s footsteps, Rogers served as Queen of the Zulu organization in 1988 and in 2000. After graduate school, Rogers moved to Chicago, Illinois, began her business career at AT&T, and married John Rogers, Jr. Soon thereafter, she became a retail investment executive for entrepreneur Larry Levy. In 1990, Rogers was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar to run the Illinois State Lottery. In 1997, she became vice president of corporate communications for Peoples Energy. Rogers was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer in 2000 and in 2004, she was elected president of the company’s two utility subsidies, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. In this role, she also served as a senior vice president of the Integrys Energy Group before becoming the first African American social secretary for the United States White House. On August 10, 2010, Rogers was appointed CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, overseeing publication of Ebony and Jet magazines.

Rogers has served on a number of corporate and civic boards, including , Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the Museum of Science and Industry and Northwestern Hospital. She has been included in Crain’s “Top 25 Women to Watch” and “40 Under 40 Business Leaders.” Black Enterprise magazine has included her in the “Top 50 Most Powerful African American Business Women” and the “Top 75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America.”

Desiree Rogers resides in Chicago with her daughter, Victoria.

Desiree Rogers was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on April 27, 2007.

Scope and Content

This life oral history interview with Desiree Rogers was conducted by Larry Crowe on April 27, 2007 and February 20, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, and was recorded on 7 Betacame SP videocasettes. Corporate executive and entrepreneur Desiree Rogers (1959 - ) was the chief executive officer of Johnson Publishing Company, overseeing the publication of Ebony and Jet magazines.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of The HistoryMakers®. Restrictions on Use

All use of materials and use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Appropriate credit must be given. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.

Related Material

Information about the administrative functions involved in scheduling, researching, and producing the interview, as well as correspondence with the interview subject is stored electronically both on The HistoryMakers® server and in two databases maintained by The HistoryMakers®, though this information is not included in this finding aid.

Controlled Access Terms

This interview collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Rogers, Desiree

Crowe, Larry (Interviewer)

Hickey, Matthew (Videographer)

Subjects:

African Americans--Interviews Rogers, Desiree--Interviews

African American businesspeople--Illinois--Chicago--Interviews.

Political science. New Orleans (La.)--Social life and customs.

Organizations:

HistoryMakers® (Video oral history collection)

The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection

Occupations:

Corporate Executive

Entrepreneur

HistoryMakers® Category:

BusinessMakers

Administrative Information

Custodial History

Interview footage was recorded by The HistoryMakers®. All rights to the interview have been transferred to The HistoryMakers® by the interview subject through a signed interview release form. Signed interview release forms have been deposited with Jenner & Block, LLP, Chicago.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, April 27, 2007 and February 20, 2008. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Processing Information This interview collection was processed and encoded on 2/5/2020 by The HistoryMakers® staff. The finding aid was created adhering to the following standards: DACS, AACR2, and the Oral History Cataloging Manual (Matters 1995).

Other Finding Aid

A Microsoft Access contact database and a FileMaker Pro tracking database, both maintained by The HistoryMakers®, keep track of the administrative functions involved in scheduling, researching, and producing the interview.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I: Original Interview Footage Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_001_001, TRT: 0:30:16 2007/04/27 Desiree Rogers was born on June 16, 1959 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Joyce Smith Glapion and Roy E. Glapion, Jr. Rogers’ maternal grandparents, Marie Williams Smith and Benjamin Smith, Sr., farmed in Pachuta, Mississippi before moving to New Orleans, where her grandmother worked as a domestic, and her grandfather became a longshoreman. Rogers’ mother was born in New Orleans in 1937, and pursued a singing career in Los Angeles before returning to marry Rogers’ father, whom she met in high school. Rogers’ father was born into a Creole family in New Orleans in 1936. A graduate of New Orleans’ Xavier University of Louisiana, he served in the U.S. Army, and then as a teacher, eventually becoming the public school system’s athletic director. He was also a member of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a Mardi Gras krewe. In the early 1960s, Rogers’ maternal grandmother and mother founded the Tommy Tucker Preschool, which Rogers attended as a child. Migration, Internal--United States. Early childhood education--New Orleans--Louisiana. Creoles--Louisiana--New Orleans. African American families--Louisiana--New Orleans. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_001_002, TRT: 0:29:17 2007/04/27 Desiree Rogers grew up in the predominantly Creole 7th Ward of New Orleans. As a girl, she assisted her mother and maternal grandmother, who lived next door, at the Tommy Tucker Preschool, which they operated out of their home. Rogers began her formal education at the St. Louis Cathedral School, an integrated Catholic school in New Orleans’ French Quarter; and went on to attend the Academy of the Sacred Heart in the Garden District. There, she became close friends with Vanessa Monconduit Ashford, one of her few African American classmates. Rogers also remembers the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and trips with her extended family to destinations like Washington, D.C. Her father, Roy E. Glapion, Jr., was a member of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a Mardi Gras krewe for African American men in New Orleans, Louisiana. At this point in the interview, Rogers describes her likeness to her father, who valued community engagement. Segregation in education--Louisiana--New Orleans. Carnival--Louisiana--New Orleans. New Orleans (La.)--Social life and customs. African American children--Education (Elementary)-- Louisiana--New Orleans. African Americans--Education (Secondary)--Louisiana-- New Orleans. Integration. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_001_003, TRT: 0:28:28 2007/04/27 Desiree Rogers attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-female Catholic high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, she excelled academically, and had an active student life. During her sophomore year, Rogers learned about the Black Power movement, and briefly wore an Afro. She aspired to attend a college on the East Coast; and, upon the recommendation of her cousins, attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Although her father, Roy E. Glapion, Jr., encouraged her to pursue a medical career, Rogers instead graduated with a B.A. degree in political science and economics in 1981. She completed the sales training program at the Xerox Corporation, and worked for a year at New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. Then, Rogers enrolled at the Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, where she found the coursework more challenging than her previous academic experiences. After graduating in 1985, Rogers moved to Chicago, Illinois to join AT&T Corporation. Wellesley College. Harvard Business School. Segregation--Louisiana--New Orleans. African American women in higher education. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_001_004, TRT: 0:28:36 2007/04/27 Desiree Rogers served as an operations manager at AT&T Corporation in Chicago, Illinois from 1985 to 1986. Despite facing sexual harassment from older employees who considered her unqualified, Rogers improved her team’s performance; and, as a result, was promoted to a position at the company headquarters in New Jersey. After a brief stint there, she returned to Chicago to marry John Rogers, Jr. She helped develop entrepreneur Larry Levy’s newsstand business, until becoming pregnant in 1989. She then founded a consulting business that specialized museum retail services. In 1991, Rogers was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar to head the Illinois State Lottery. She worked closely with Edgar’s public information officer, Mike Lawrence, to refine her media presence. During her tenure, Rogers supervised the marketing programs that led to the success of instant ticket games like Bunny Bucks and Monster Cash. Rogers also describes misconceptions many have about the lottery. Harvard Business School. llinois Lottery--Employment. AT & T. African American businesswomen. Sex role in the work environment--United States. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_001_005, TRT: 0:11:31 2007/04/27 Desiree Rogers served as the director of the Illinois State Lottery during the 1990s. In this role, she supervised the resolution with issues of lottery tampering, and disputes over the ownership of winning tickets. She also explains the role of the Illinois State Lottery in the budget of the State of Illinois, including the lottery’s contribution to the state education budget. In addition, Rogers reflects upon her education at the Harvard Business School, and how the skills she acquired there benefited her directorship of the Illinois State Lottery. African American women executives. Lottery proceeds--Illinois. Lottery winners--Illinois. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_002_006, TRT: 0:30:55 2008/02/20 Desiree Rogers served as the president of the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, a subsidiary of the People’s Energy Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, Rogers worked in a philanthropic capacity with organizations such as the Chicago Housing Authority and the Museum of Science and Industry. With her husband, Ariel Capital Management founder John Rogers, Jr., Rogers had one daughter, Victoria Rogers. At this point in the interview, she talks about the political campaign process, particularly as it related to Barack Obama; who, at the time of the interview, was campaigning for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Rogers also talks about her career plans, and the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, Rogers reflects upon her life, her hopes for the African American community and her legacy. She concludes the interview by describing how she would like to be remembered. Illinois State Lottery. Business--Illinois--Chicago. African American women—Employment. Mentoring in business. Peoples Energy Corporation. Video Oral History Interview with Desiree Rogers, Section A2007_169_002_007, TRT: 0:30:09 2008/02/20 Desiree Rogers served as the president of the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, a subsidiary of the People’s Energy Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, Rogers worked in a philanthropic capacity with organizations such as the Chicago Housing Authority and the Museum of Science and Industry. With her husband, Ariel Capital Management founder John Rogers, Jr., Rogers had one daughter, Victoria Rogers. At this point in the interview, she talks about the political campaign process, particularly as it related to Barack Obama; who, at the time of the interview, was campaigning for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Rogers also talks about her career plans, and the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, Rogers reflects upon her life, her hopes for the African American community and her legacy. She concludes the interview by describing how she would like to be remembered. African American businesswomen. Hurricane Katrina, 2005. Business--Vocational guidance.