I've always wondered if the voice was heritable - especially after talking to someone who had an ancient recording of Oscar Wilde. He'd set it to play at a baritone level, but wasn't sure if this was right. Then I heard one of Wilde's grandsons speaking on radio, and he had a pleasant baritone voice.

The inventor of the theremin went on to work for the KGB, didn't he, by the way?

Women with high voices: what about Yma Sumac (was that her name?) who was supposed to have had a five-octave range or something?

Not a woman, and not pre-50s, but have you heard Brian Kennedy's recording of As I Roved Out? Interesting use of falsetto.