Mary Strauss donates Josephine Baker collection, reminding us of a hidden Jewish story

When Mary Strauss decided to donate her lifelong Josephine Baker collection to the Missouri Historical Society, it was more than just an extraordinary gift of memorabilia. Strauss, a Jewish St. Louisan best known for helping save the Fox Theatre, has spent decades honoring Baker, the hometown entertainer who became an international legend.

While the Josephine Baker collection itself doesn’t spotlight Baker’s ties to Jews in France during World War II, Strauss’s donation is a reminder that Baker’s legacy carries a story that should never be forgotten: the Jewish producer who first recruited her for espionage, the Jewish communities she helped shield and the hidden acts of defiance that made her not only a star but also a resistance hero.

How the collection began

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