Cowl, Jane, 1884-1950

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Jane Cowl, actor and author, was born Grace Bailey in Boston on December 14, 1884.

She began her career as an actor with David Belasco debuting in the Belasco Theatre on December 10, 1903 as an extra in SWEET KITTY BELAIRS, and quickly rose to starring roles with his company. In 1912, she scored a major success as Mary Turner in WITHIN THE LAW. She also appeared in the silent movie THE SPREADING DAWN in 1917.

Jane Cowl later collaborated with Jane Murfin (Crisp) to write and appear in four plays including LILAC TIME, SMILIN' THROUGH, INFORMATION PLEASE and DAYBREAK. She was the author of the plays THE JEALOUS MOON and HERVEY HOUSE. Ms. Cowl was acclaimed for her Shakespearean roles. She was considered the greatest Juliet in American theater, playing a record-breaking number of performances during the 1922-1923 season. During the 1920's Jane Cowl formed her own production company, directing and starring in productions including ROMEO AND JULIET. Her career also took her to London, where she appeared in Noel Coward's EASY

Jane Cowl lectured and wrote on theatrical and other topics. In the 1940's she had a radio program on WOR. During World War I she was active in war relief and in World War II she was the co-chair of the Stage Door Canteen Committee and served on the Board of Directors of the American Theatre Wing. She married Adolph Klauber, a New York Times drama critic and theatrical producer, on June 19, 1906. He died in 1933.

At the end of her 47 year theatrical career, she moved to Hollywood and appeared in films including ONCE MORE MY DARLING and PAYMENT ON DEMAND. She died in Santa Monica, California on June 22, 1950.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995. Emeline Clark Roche Collection, 1815-1988. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Jane Cowl papers, 1907-1949, 1927-1945 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Wells collection of theatrical photographs, ca. 1890-1930. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Robert Benney research materials, 1926-1978 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Abott, Bessie, 1878-1919,. Autograph album of Hartman Hotel, 1903-1918. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Souvenir programs of contemporary personalities, 1880-1993. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Cowl, Jane, 1884-1950. Jane Cowl radio scripts, 1934-1946 Houghton Library
referencedIn Jane Cowl drawings, 19-- New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Jo Mielziner papers, 1903-1976 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Emeline Clark Roche Collection, 1815-1988 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975. Papers of Thornton Wilder [manuscript], 1922-1962. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Crawford, Jack Randall, b. 1878. Crawford Theater collection, 1663-1992 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
creatorOf Dan H. Laurence Collection. Captain Brassbound / by George Bernard Shaw - program of production at the Playhouse, Cedarhurst, Long Island, July 1940. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Jane Cowl collection, [ca. 1923-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Women's Project of New Jersey. Records, 1984-2004 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Cowl, Jane, 1884-1950,. Autograph letter signed from Jane Cowl to Viola Allen [manuscript], [1916]. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Cowl, Jane, 1884-1950. Letter to Horace Howard Furness, Jr., 1924. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. Houghton Library
referencedIn Anderson, Ellen Graham, 1887-. Papers of Ellen Graham Anderson [manuscript], 1912-1959. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Ivor Novello papers, 1911-1956. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995. Emeline Clark Roche Papers, 1815-1988. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Women's Graduate Club Portrait Collection, c.1920-1930s. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn The Railroad hour, radio program [sound recording], 1948-1954 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: Henry Munroe Rogers papers, 1812-1937 (inclusive), 1862-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Arthur William Row papers, 1902-1961 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Cowl, Jane, 1884-1950. Jane Cowl papers, 1907-1949, bulk (1927-1945). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Crawford Theater collection, 1663-1992 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Cowl, Jane, 1883-1950. Jane Cowl papers, 1884-1949. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Allen, Viola, 1867-1948 person
associatedWith American Theatre Wing. corporateBody
associatedWith Anderson, Ellen Graham, 1887- person
associatedWith Benney, Robert, 1904-2001 person
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
correspondedWith Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
associatedWith Crawford, Jack Randall, b. 1878. person
associatedWith Dan H. Laurence Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976 person
associatedWith Morse, Frank person
associatedWith Morse, Frank. person
associatedWith Murfin, Jane, d. 1955. person
correspondedWith Novello, Ivor, 1893-1951 person
associatedWith Railroad Hour Radio Program corporateBody
associatedWith Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995. person
associatedWith Roche, Emeline Clark, 1902-1995. person
associatedWith Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 person
associatedWith Row, Arthur William, 1878-1961 person
associatedWith Skinner, Cornelia Otis, 1901-1979 person
associatedWith Stage Door Canteen. corporateBody
associatedWith Wells, George Doane, collector. person
associatedWith Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975. person
associatedWith Winter, William, 1836-1917 person
associatedWith Women's Graduate Club of Columbia University. corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Project of New Jersey corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Boston MA US
New York City NY US
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Theater
Acting
Authors and theater
Radio programs
Radio programs
Women in the theater
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Actors
Dramatists
Radio broadcasters
Activity

Person

Birth 1884-12-14

Death 1950-06-22

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6010scm

SNAC ID: 85328519