From the Archives to the Airwaves: Taylor Swift’s ‘Clara Bow’ and the AHC’s Scrapbook

Sometimes you find remarkably topical surprises in the archives, like the recent discovery of a scrapbook devoted to Clara Bow in the Samuel Anthony Peeples papers at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. This treasure trove of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and photographs documents Clara Bow’s life and career, from her early days as a rising star in the 1920s to her retirement from acting in the 1930s. The scrapbook provides a glimpse into the public’s fascination with Bow and the media’s role in shaping her image, while also raising intriguing questions about why Peeples, a writer and producer active in the 1960s and 70s, collected these materials.

Peeples is primarily known for his work in the Western genre and science fiction television, having written for series such as The Virginian, Lancer, and Star Trek. His association with these genres makes his interest in Clara Bow, a silent film star from the 1920s, all the more interesting.

There are several reasons why Peeples might have been drawn to create a scrapbook about Clara Bow. As a writer, he may have found inspiration in her life story and viewed elements of her personality as a basis for developing complex characters in his own work. Also, Bow’s experiences with fame and the challenges she faced could have resonated with Peeples as he navigated the entertainment industry. The scrapbook might have also been a way for Peeples to explore the history of Hollywood, pay tribute to a pioneering figure, or satisfy a personal connection or admiration for Bow.

While we may never know the full story behind the scrapbook, its presence in the archives has taken on new significance in light of recent events. In 2024, Clara Bow found herself back in the spotlight thanks to Taylor Swift’s song “Clara Bow” from the album The Tortured Poets Department. The song draws parallels between the lives and experiences of these two iconic figures from vastly different eras, both connected by the common thread of fame.

Let’s look at some of the lyrics from “Clara Bow” to understand Swift’s perspective and the echoes of Bow’s life within them. Swift starts by singing,

and continues in the song,

Swift’s lyrics capture the pressure to be “dazzling” and the sacrifices demanded of celebrity women. The phrase “It’s hell on earth to be heavenly” encapsulates the dark side of fame that both Bow and Swift have navigated.

In an interview with Variety.com, Swift discussed the inspiration behind “Clara Bow,” stating, “I used to sit in record labels trying to get a record deal when I was a little kid. And they’d say, ‘You know, you remind us of’ and then they’d name an artist, and then they’d kind of say something disparaging about her, ‘but you’re this, you’re so much better in this way or that way.’ And that’s how we teach women to see themselves, as like you could be the new replacement for this woman who’s done something great before you.”

This idea of one celebrity being seen as a “replacement” for another is a recurring theme in the public’s perception of famous women. Bow, who rose from humble beginnings to become the quintessential flapper and silent film star of the 1920s, was often pitted against other actresses of her time. Similarly, Swift has been compared to and contrasted with her contemporaries throughout her career. These comparisons can be reductive, overshadowing the unique talents and contributions of each individual.

The Clara Bow scrapbook in Samuel Anthony Peeples’ papers may remain a mystery, but it provides a tangible connection to Bow’s life and the era in which she lived, while Swift’s lyrics bring her story into the present day, inviting listeners to draw connections between the two women’s experiences. Together, these elements create a bridge between the past and the present, highlighting the timeless nature of the challenges faced by women in the public eye.

Post contributed by AHC Writer Kathryn Billington and AHC Archivist Leslie Waggener.