Sarah Lawrence College DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence Women's History Theses Women’s History Graduate Program 5-2017 Queen Esther: The Life of Esther Gordy Edwards and Her Contributions to the Building of Motown Records Velvet Aisha Johnson Ross Sarah Lawrence College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.slc.edu/womenshistory_etd Part of the Women's History Commons Recommended Citation Ross, Velvet Aisha Johnson, "Queen Esther: The Life of Esther Gordy Edwards and Her Contributions to the Building of Motown Records" (2017). Women's History Theses. 28. https://digitalcommons.slc.edu/womenshistory_etd/28 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Women’s History Graduate Program at DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence. It has been accepted for inclusion in Women's History Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Queen Esther: The Life of Esther Gordy Edwards and Her Contributions to the Building of Motown Records Velvet Aisha Johnson Ross Submitted in partial completion of the Master of Arts Degree at Sarah Lawrence College, May 2017 Abstract The Life of Esther Gordy Edwards and Her Contribution to the Building of Motown Records Esther Gordy Edwards was called the “First Woman of Motown Records.” She was a thirty-year music executive veteran of Motown Records’ label. Edwards was a woman of many capabilities. She served as a mentor, personal manager of artists, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and International Director. Motown Records was founded in 1959, with a loan from a family fund she established. The Motown Museum and her work as the “keeper of culture” helped to seal the Motown Record label into the world’s historical consciousness.