About

Our Namesake: Who was Gertrude Stein?

GertrudeStein.jpgGertrude Stein was an American writer, poet, feminist, playwright, lesbian and catalyst in the development of modern art and literature, whose partner was writer Alice B. Toklas. While living in Paris during World War II, Stein and Toklas aided the efforts of the Allies and French Resistance by operating as supply drivers for French hospitals.

After the war, Gertrude's status in Paris grew when she and Toklas were visited by many young American soldiers. She died in 1946 in France at the age of 72. A sister chapter of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club is the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club in San Francisco, also a founding chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats.