Norma Jeane (Mortensen) Monroe (1926 - 1962)

Born 1 Jun 1926 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of Charles Stanley Gifford and Gladys Pearl (Monroe) Baker

Wife of James Edward Dougherty — married 19 Jun 1942 (to Jun 1946) in Los Angeles, California

Wife of Joseph Paolo Josephus DiMaggio — married 14 Jan 1954 (to 27 Oct 1954) in San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California

Died 5 Aug 1962 at age 36 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California.^[1] During her all-too-brief life, Monroe overcame a difficult childhood to become one of the world's biggest and most enduring sex symbols. During her career, Monroe's films grossed more than $200 million. Monroe died of a possible drug overdose at her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California on August 5, 1962, at only 36 years old.^[2]

Disputed Father

Marilyn Monroe's father is officially unknown, but is widely believed to be Charles Stanley Gifford. Recent DNA evidence seems to strongly point in this direction as well, as compared DNA samples between Marilyn and Charles revealed a three generation connection between Francine Gifford (the granddaughter of Charles Stanley Gifford) and Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn is called Norma Jeane Mortenson (sic) on her birth certificate of June 1, 1926 and shown as the daughter of Edward Mortenson (sic) and Gladys Monroe.^[1]

On May 26, 1925^[3] Mortensen petitioned for divorce from Monroe due to desertion. The divorce was finalized August 15, 1928.^[4][5]

Martin E. Mortensen and Gladys Mortensen.

Plaintiff alleges in accordance with Section 426A of the Code of Civil Procedure of California the following facts:

1. The state in which married---California;

2. The date of Marriage---Oct 11th, 1924;

3. The date of separation---May 26th, 1925;

4. The period from marriage to separation---seven months and fifteen days;

5. That no children have resulted from said marriage;

6. That there is no community property.

That on or about the 26th day of May, 1925, at Los Angeles, California, the defendant, disregarding the solemnity of her marriage vows, wilfully and without cause deserted plaintiff and ever since has and now continues to wilfully and without cause desert and abandon plaintiff against his will.

Mortensen hoped for reconciliation but when Gladys never replied to his repeated overtures, he at last requested a final decree of divorce, which was handed down August 15, 1928.^[3]

Martin Edward Mortensen could not have been Marilyn's father since he had no physical contact with her mother, Gladys, after May 26, 1925, and Marilyn was born June 1, 1926.

After leaving Mortensen, Gladys P. Monroe started seeing Charles Gifford, among others, who was her supervisor at Consolidated Film Industries where Gladys worked as a film cutter. Marilyn Monroe's biological father is widely believed to have been Gifford,^[6][7] although there is no evidence to support this belief, other than statements made by Gladys and Marilyn.

"The official ruling is that the father was unknown, though evidence suggests it was Gifford, and this was most certainly the belief of Gladys. For instance, family letters and memories show that both Gladys and Norma Jeane named him as the father on several occasions, and in August 1961, an article appeared in ‘Cavalier Magazine’ which said: ‘[Marilyn’s] father is very much alive and residing in Southern California. He was once connected with the movie business, although he no longer is today.’ This would certainly be a nod in Gifford’s direction, since by that time he was living south of Los Angeles and running his own dairy farm.

Gladys broke the news of the pregnancy to Gifford during a New Year’s party at the family home, presumably that of his father, carpenter Frederick Gifford who lived at 12024 Venice Boulevard. Later as the pregnancy became obvious, it created quite a stir in the Gifford family; particularly with his sister Ethel, who lectured him intensely, demanding to know what he intended to do about the situation. The argument culminated with Ethel telling her brother, “Look, either marry the woman or do something”, and according to relatives, Gladys was not seen at their home anymore."^[8]

See My Story, Marilyn Monroe with Ben Hecht.^[9] The book is in Marilyn Monroe's words, dictated to Hecht. Marilyn talks about the one picture on the wall of her mother's room, of a man wearing "a slouch hat a little gaily on the side. There was a lively smile in his eyes, and he had a thin mustache like Clark Gable." "That's your father," her mother told her. Later in the book, Marilyn says when she was 12 and someone asked her last name, she wouldn't give him Norma Mortenson because it wasn't the name of the man with the slouch hat and Gable mustache.

In her book, My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe, by Berniece Baker Miracle (Marilyn's half-sister), and Mona Rae Miracle (her niece), Berniece recalled a conversation with her mother, Gladys, in which Gladys described Marilyn's father as, "an important man in the movie industry," and claimed Marilyn's father was not Edward Mortensen.^[10]

There is a fascinating composite photograph of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Stanley Gifford on Pinterest. Note the eyes, chin and shape of the face.

Early Years

On March 27, 1936 Grace McKee, a close friend of Norma Jeane's mother Gladys, became Norma Jean's legal guardian, her name noted on the "Letters of Guardianship" as follows:^[11]

"Norma Jean Baker, also known as Norma Jean Mortenson, a minor."

After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, and sometimes with Grace (McKee) Goddard, Norma Jean Baker began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946 with Twentieth Century Fox. The same year, Norma Jean started using Marilyn Monroe as her name. It comes from her mother's maiden name, Monroe, and Marilyn Miller, a musical performer of the 1920s. On Feb. 23, 1956, she obtained an order from the City Court of the State of New York to legally change her name from Norma Jeane Mortenson to Marilyn Monroe.^[12]

Marilyn's early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) drew attention. By 1952 she had her first leading role in Don't Bother to Knock and 1953 brought a lead in Niagara, a melodramatic film noir that dwelt on her seductiveness. Her "dumb blonde" persona was used to comic effect in subsequent films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955). Limited by typecasting, Monroe studied at the Actors Studio to broaden her range. Her dramatic performance in Bus Stop (1956) was hailed by critics and garnered a Golden Globe nomination. Her production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, released The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), for which she received a BAFTA Award nomination and won a David di Donatello award. In 1960, Marilyn Monroe won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for Some Like It Hot (1959). She won the Golden Globe for World's Favourite Female Star in 1961. Monroe's last film was The Misfits (1961), co-starring Clark Gable, with a screenplay written by her then-husband, Arthur Miller.

Monroe's library contained more than 400 books on a wide variety of topics from art and biography to politics and theology. Marilyn was a humanitarian who supported charitable causes like the Milk Fund for Babies and the March of Dimes. She was an active advocate of the civil rights movement. She used her fame to support artists like Ella Fitzgerald struggling to land their first break. Marilyn liked writing poetry, cooking and listening to classical music.^[12]

Final Years

The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for unreliability and being difficult to work with.

The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a "probable suicide", the possibilities of an accidental overdose or a homicide have not been ruled out. Marilyn Monroe received her final order of prescription drugs from the corner pharmacy at San Vicente and Santa Monica. Owner was Normal Siskel; his first wife delivered the order to Marilyn personally, the last 2-3 orders. This pharmacy was located almost in Brentwood. (Personally told to Lilly Martin.)

In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth-greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. In the decades following her death, she has often been cited as both a pop and a cultural icon as well as the quintessential American sex symbol. In 2009, TV Guide Network named her No. 1 in Film's Sexiest Women of All Time.

Mayflower Descendant

It is through Charles Stanley Gifford, widely believed to be her father, that Marilyn Monroe is a descendant of Mayflower passengers John Alden,^[13][14] Priscilla Mullins, William Mullins and wife Alice, and Francis Cooke. She is also a descendant of Henry Howland, father of Mayflower Passenger, John Howland.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGW4-1PN : 27 November 2014), Norma Jeane Mortenson, 01 Jun 1926; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
2. ↑ California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP4Q-PGL : 26 November 2014), Marilyn Monroe, 05 Aug 1962; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Spoto, Donald. Marilyn Monroe: The Biography. Cooper Square Press. New York. 1993. pg. 12.
4. ↑ Divorce claim of Mortensen vs. Baker, File #053720, in and for the County of Los Angeles in the Superior Court of the State of California.
5. ↑ Cursumperficio Baker Gladys Pearl born Monroe : accessed 9 Dec 2018.
6. ↑ 2020 American Ancestors Marilyn Monroe
7. ↑ Brenneman, Richard E., "Notable Kin - New England in Hollywood, Part Three: The Possible Rhode Island Ancestry of Marilyn Monroe", www.americanancestors.org/notable-kin-the-possible-rhode-island-ancestry-of-marilyn-monroe, (accessed 10/09/2014), New England Historic Genealogical Society (Online Database).
8. ↑ Michelle Morgan Blog. August 5, 2012. Author of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed : accessed 9 Dec 2018.
9. ↑ My Story, Marilyn Monroe with Ben Hecht. Taylor Trade Publishing. Lanham, Maryland. 2007. pp. 4 & 22.
10. ↑ Goodreads: Book Reviews My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe.
11. ↑ Cursumperficio McKee, Grace
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Marilyn Monroe.com Marilyn Monroe : accessed 9 Dec 2018.
13. ↑ General Society of Mayflower Descendants Marilyn Monroe: Pilgrim John Alden "While it is believed that these people [Notable Descendants] are Mayflower descendants, not all have membership in GSMD or have been vetted by the Historian General's office."
14. ↑ Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com Marilyn Monroe
15. ↑ Famous Kin Ancestry of Marilyn Monroe

• Wikidata: Item Q4616
• Wikipedia Marilyn Monroe
• Biography Marilyn Monroe

See also:

Book Review of Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon (St. Martin’s Press, 2018) by Charles Casillo.

Marilyn Monroe's father destroyed her love life by Larry Getlen, August 11, 2018 : accessed 7 Dec 2018.

Acknowledgements

• Researched and edited by Sara V Mosher, Dec 2018
• Entered by Janice Hardin, Nov 27, 2011

• "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGW4-1PN : 27 November 2014), Norma Jeane Mortenson, 01 Jun 1926; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.

Birth record:

Name: Norma Jeane Mortenson

Event Type: Birth

Event Date: 01 Jun 1926

Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States

Gender: Female

Mother's Name: Monroe

Norma Jeane Mortenson, "California, Birth Index, 1905-1995"

Birth location: L.A. General Hospital, Los Angeles Co CA

Birth Certificate states her mother's address as: 5454 W. Bledso, Los Angels.

1100 Mission Road, (The doctor's office)

Source: the actual birth record.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJJ-ZV5 : accessed 16 June 2018), Norma Jean Baker in household of Albert W Bolander, Hawthorne, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1000, sheet 8A, line 11, family 207, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 128; FHL microfilm 2,339,863.

1930 census: living with Albert and Ida Bolender (Strict Christian Scientists)

Abers W Bolander

[Albert W Bolender]

[Abers W Bolender]

Home in 1930: Hawthorne, Los Angeles, California

View Map

Age: 46

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884

Birthplace: Ohio

Relation to Head of House: Head

Spouse's Name: Edna E Bolander

Race: White

Abers W Bolander 46

Edna E Bolander 42

Lester Bolander 3 8/12

Gladys Baker 27

Norma Jean Baker 63

Note: Albert W. Bolander, mail carrier. US Postal

Address: 459 Rhode Island, Hawthorne, CA

Note: Gladys states she is 27 yrs old, divorced, working as a developer in Motion Pictures. States she was born in England, both parents English, and she came to USA in 1870 immigration. Obviously strange answers.

Norma Jean Baker is listed as 63 yrs old, widowed, no occuption, born in Indiana.

Both Gladys and Norma Jean are boarders.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9C5-PHR : accessed 16 June 2018), Norma Jean Baker in household of Ervin S Goddard, Councilmanic District 3, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-238, sheet 5A, line 17, family 107, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 408.

1940

Name: Norma Jean Baker

Age: 13

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1927

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birthplace: California

Marital Status: Single

Relation to Head of House: Ward

Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

View Map

Street: Nebraska Avenue

House Number: 11336

Inferred Residence in 1935: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

Residence in 1935: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

Resident on farm in 1935: No

Sheet Number: 5A

Ervin S Goodard 35

Grace Goodard 24

Norma Jean Baker 13

Margaret T Kanaun 79

• 1941 High School Year Book:

Norma Baker

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1921

Age: 20

School: University High School

School Location: Los Angeles, California

Year: 1941

She was mentioned as designing the set for the school play.

• 1942 High School Year Book:

Norma Baker

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1922

Age: 20

School: University High School

School Location: Los Angeles, California

Year: 1942

1942: Marilyn lived with a Foster Family on Sylvan st, Van Nuys.

• "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8V5-R52 : 8 December 2017), James Edward Dougherty and Norma Jeane Mortensen, 19 Jun 1942; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,114,948.

Her first marriage record:

Name: James Edward Dougherty

Event Type: Marriage

Event Date: 19 Jun 1942

Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States

Gender: Male

Age: 21

Birth Year (Estimated): 1921

Father's Name: Edward Dougherty

Mother's Name: Ethel Beatty

Spouse's Name: Norma Jeane Mortensen

Spouse's Age: 16

Spouse's Gender: Female

Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1926

Spouse's Father's Name: E Mortensen

Spouse's Mother's Name: ?? Moore

Page: 245

GS Film number: 2114948

Digital Folder Number: 005698684

Image Number: 01738

• Newspaper citings:

Newspaper: The Coshocton Tribune

Publication: 9 Jul 1946 - Coshocton, Ohio

Blonde, blue eyed Norma Jeane Doughtery model from Los Angeles poses in bathing suit.

Newspaper: The Salisbury Times

Publication: 11 Aug 1962 - Salisbury, Maryland

Her first contract was signed Aug 26, 1946, 20th Century Fox, at $125.00 per week, maximum of 20 weeks.

Newspaper: Kingsport Times

Publication: 29 Feb 1956 - Kingsport, Tennessee

Notice: Norma Jeane Dougherty has legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe

Newspaper: Long Beach Independent

Publication: 28 Oct 1954 - Long Beach, California

Divorce proceedings at Santa Monica Superior court, Joe and Marilyn.

• Places Marilyn lived:

508 N. Palm drive, Beverly Hills. (Honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio)

8573 Holloway drive, West Hollywood (apt shared with Shelly Winters)

12305 Fifth Helena Drive, off Carmelina st, Brentwood (her last home and death place)

• Actual death location: 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, Brentwood, Los Angeles Co CA.
• Marilyn Monroe Find A Grave: Memorial #725

Burial at: Westwood Memorial Cemetery, 1218 Glendon Avenue, Westwood CA. Find A Grave Memorial# 725

Name: Marilyn Monroe

Event Type: Death

Event Date: 05 Aug 1962

Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States

Birth Date: 01 Jun 1926

Birthplace: California

Gender: Female

Father's Name:

Mother's Name: Baker

Marilyn Monroe, "California, Death Index, 1940-1997

• Marilyn Monroe: social security number: 563-32-076