U.S. #5699
2022 78¢ Katharine Graham
Issue Date: June 14, 2022
First Day City: Washington, DC
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 10,000,000
Katharine Meyer Graham (June 16, 1917 – July 17, 2001) was the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company and led The Washington Post Company from 1963 to 1991. She is also well known for publishing the infamous Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal, despite government objections. While CEO, the company's revenue grew by over one billion dollars and The Washington Post became one of the nation's leading sources of news.
Katharine Graham didn't start out as a confident go-getter. In fact, in her Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Personal History, she classified herself as a "doormat wife" until her mid-40s. Her father originally owned The Post before passing it on to her husband, Philip Graham. When Philip died, Katharine took the reins. She admitted to being unsure she was fit for the role, often consulting male colleagues when it came to making business decisions. However, before long, Graham came into her own as CEO. Soon, nothing could hold her back.
Katharine Graham accomplished many things in her lifetime. She fought for gender equality in the workplace, advocated for freedom of the press (especially in regard to public knowledge of government actions), and more. She continues to be a role model for women to this day.