Helen Faith Keane

On the set of "For Your Information," 1951

Helen Faith Keane on the set of "For Your Information."

Keane's program invited viewers to write in with questions and problems. When enough letters on any one topic arrived, Keane and her staff would seek out an expert in this area and build a show around the topic.

With producer Keith Thomas, 1951

Helen Faith Keane pictured with her program's producer, Keith Thomas.

Keane was far more than just a "talking head" on her show; she took an active interest in all aspects of her program's production.

On-air demonstration, 1951

Helen Faith Keane and two unidentified women present an on-air demonstration.

Conducting an interview, 1951

Here, Helen Faith Keane conducts an on-air interview.

Keane's television career began when she watched a televised fashion show that was broadcast over the DuMont network. Feeling that the male commentator was uninformed and condescending on the topic, she phoned the station the next day to complain. In response, she was told that if she felt she could do a better job, she should come down to the station and try it herself--so she did.

Publicity still, 1951

This publicity shot shows that cooking was one topic explored on Helen Faith Keane's daily program. However, Keane and her show also addressed far weightier topics including what to ask your doctor about breast cancer.

Before her entry into broadcasting, Keane, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Cornell University (where she was a member of the women's rowing team), had worked as a fashion coordinator for Montgomery Ward New York.

Title card from opening credits, 1951

An original title card used at the beginning of each broadcast of Helen Faith Keane's show.

The television camera would zoom in on this graphic to identify the show and its host.

Title card from opening credits, 1951

An original title card used at the beginning of each broadcast of Helen Faith Keane's show.

The illustration of letters as a background is a reference to the program's viewer-driven selecting of show topics.

McCall's Golden Mike Award, 1951

In 1951, "For Your Information with Helen Faith Keane" won the McCall's Golden Mike Award for "Women in Radio and Television." This is the cover of the program from the award ceremony.

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Station-produced brochure, 1951

This station-produced promotional item celebrates Helen Faith Keane's 1951 "McCall's Golden Mike Award" win.

One of that year's judges, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, said of "For Your Information with Helen Faith Keane": "The material was inspiring evidence of what women can do, and are doing, for our country and our people."

Station-produced promotional item celebrating Helen Faith Keane's 1951 Golden Mike Award win (continued).

According to the pamphlet, after Keane solicited letters from her viewers she "extracted from individual problems the broad principles that made them apply in some part to every woman. Thus, viewers became full-fledged participants in the program…"

The pamphlet, probably intended for the DuMont network's advertisers and sponsors, emphasizes Keane's integrity and the credibility with which she is viewed by her audience. Thus, it reads, "Since women are constantly asking Helen Faith Keane how to handle their social problems, how to keep their husbands, how to train their children and how to better their looks, they naturally respect her counsel on how to spend their money wisely."

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Reminder card for viewers, 1951

This reminder card was printed and distributed by Helen Faith Keane's television station.

After spending one successful year in broadcasting, Keane returned to her earlier vocation, in education. She would go on to be a professor at New York University for over thirty years.

Thanks from League of Women Voters, 1951

A letter of thanks to Helen Faith Keane from the New York chapter of the League of Women Voters.

As "For Your Information" was designed to assist the community, Keane's program did quite a bit of "outreach" activity to engage viewers and the public.

The letters in this gallery come from copies of the originals that were then fashioned by the station into a promotional dossier on the program and its host.

From National Society of Volunteers of America, 1951

This July 20, 1951 letter from the Volunteers of America (National Society) praises Helen Faith Keane and her program for addressing the subjects of narcotics, and for her "frank handling of a working family budget" on her program.

The reference to "Straw Hat" in the first paragraph refers to a then-popular brand of perfume which Keane distributed for free, as a station and program promotion.

The letters in this gallery come from copies of the originals that were fashioned by the station into a promotional dossier on Keane and her program.