Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969

Variant names

Hide Profile

Hallie Flanagan was the national director of the Federal Theatre Project, 1935-1939.

From the description of Federal Theatre Project visual materials, 1935-1937 and n.d. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 748689080

Hallie Flanagan Davis, whose professional name was Hallie Flanagan, taught drama at Vassar, 1925-1942, and founded its experimental theater; in the 1930s she served as the director of the Federal Theater Project.

From the description of Hallie Flanagan papers, 1904-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 51576479

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1924]-1939. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155518984

Smith College Dean and Professor, Theater, 1942-1955. Grinnell College, Associate Professor, 1924/1925. Vassar College, Professor, 1925-1942. Head, Federal Theater Project. Grinnell College, B.A., 1911. Radcliffe College, M.A., 1924.

From the description of Hallie Flanagan Davis papers, 1938-1964. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 51249172

Director of Works Progress Administration Federal Theatre Project, 1935-1939.

From the description of Papers, 1935-1939. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77933753

Hallie Flanagan Davis was born on August 27, 1890 in Redfield, South Dakota. Her parents were Frederic Miller and Louise (Fisher) Ferguson. Davis got her BA at Grinell College (Grinell, Iowa) in 1911. In 1924, she earned her Masters from Radcliffe College. She had two short-lived marriages, both of which ended due to her husbands' death. The first, in 1912, was to John Murray Flanagan, who died in 1919. The second, in 1934, was to Phillip Haldane Davis, who died in 1940. Between the two marriages, Davis had two children and three step children.

In 1924-5, Hallie Flanagan Davis was an Associate Professor at Grinell College, and the founder of their Experimental Theater. From 1925 until 1942, Davis worked as a Professor at Vassar College, where she also founded and directed Experimental Theater. In 1935, she was asked to head the Federal Theater Project, which was part of the New Deal's W.P.A. She served as the head of the project until its end. In 1942, she accepted Smith College's offer to serve as Dean and a professor in the Drama Department. She resigned from her position as Dean in 1946 so that she could focus on the Drama Department, of which she was the chair, and on the Theater, of which she was the director. Davis retired from Smith in 1955. In 1962, the Studio Theater in Smith's new Center for the Performing Arts was named in her honor. She died on July 23, 1969.

Flanagan Davis' writings include: Arena, Shifting Scenes in the Modern European Theater, and Dynamo, the Story of the Vassar Theater. Her plays include: The Curtain, and E-mc2.

From the guide to the Hallie Flanagan Davis Papers RG 42., 1938-1964, (Smith College Archives)

Hallie Flanagan was the national director of the Federal Theatre Project; taught and directed at Grinnell and Smith College and founded the Vassar Experimental Theatre.

She was born in 1890 (some sources say 1889) in Redfield, South Dakota and grew up in Grinnell, Iowa where she attended Grinnell College. She studied with George Pierce Baker at Harvard's 47 Workshop. She returned to Grinnell where she initiated her idea for an experimental theater. The following year she accepted a job at Vassar College. In 1926 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to study theater in Europe, the first woman to receive this honor. She traveled extensively and met with John Galsworthy, Konstantin Stanislavsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Karel Capek, Edward Gordon Craig, and Lady Gregory among others. From 1927 to 1935 she taught and directed at Vassar where she established the Vassar Experimental Theatre.

In 1935 Hallie Flanagan was appointed national director of the Federal Theatre Project, an offshoot of the Works Progress Administration. Flanagan envisioned the project not only as a source of employment for American artists but as a way to bring theater to people across the country, many of whom had never seen a play. The project lasted for four years and was ultimately abolished by Congress. Hallie Flanagan returned to Vassar where, with the aid of a Rockefeller grant, she organized the Federal Theatre records and wrote ARENA, the story of the Federal Theatre Project.

In 1942 she took a leave of absence from Vassar and became the head of the theater department of Smith College. She remained at Smith until her retirement in 1952.

Besides ARENA, Flanagan was the author of numerous articles and two other books: SHIFTING SCENES OF THE MODERN EUROPEAN THEATRE, based on her 1926-1927 travels, and DYNAMO, a chronicle of her work at Vassar. She was also a playwright. Hallie Flanagan died on July 23, 1969.

From the description of Hallie Flanagan papers, 1923-1963. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122485718

National Director of the Federal Theater Project.

FTP was established in 1935 as part of the Works Progress Administration Federal Project No. 1. It was abolished in 1939 when funding was cut in the Reorganization Act of 1939.

From the description of Hallie Flanagan papers from the Federal Theater Project, 1935-1939. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122455941

Hallie Flanagan was born Hallie Ferguson August 27, 1889 in Redfield, South Dakota. She grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, attended Grinnell College, and studied with George Pierce Baker at Harvard's 47 Workshop. She returned to Grinnell where she initiated her idea for an experimental theater. The following year she accepted a job at Vassar College. In 1926 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to study theater in Europe, the first woman to receive this honor. She traveled extensively and met with John Galsworthy, Constantine Stanislavsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Karel Capek, Edward Gordon Craig, and Lady Gregory, among others. From 1927 to 1935 she taught and directed at Vassar where she established the Vassar Experimental Theatre.

In 1935 Flanagan was appointed national director of the Federal Theatre Project, an offshoot of the Works Progress Administration. Flanagan envisioned the project not only as a source of employment for American artists but as a way to bring theater to people across the country, many of whom had never seen a play. The project lasted for four turbulent yet creative years and was ultimately abolished by Congress. Flanagan returned to Vassar where, with the aid of a Rockefeller grant, she organized the Federal Theatre records [Theatre Research Project] and wrote Arena, the story of the Federal Theatre Project.

On leave of absence from Vassar in 1942, Flanagan accepted a position at Smith College as head of the theater department and Dean of the school. She remained at Smith until her retirement in 1952.

Besides Arena, Flanagan was the author of numerous articles and two other books: Shifting Scenes of the Modern European Theatre, based on her 1926-1927 travels, and Dynamo, a chronicle of her work at Vassar. She was also a playwright.

Flanagan married twice: to Murray Flanagan who died in 1918 and to Philip Davis who died in 1940. Flanagan lived with Parkinson's disease for many years and died on July 23, 1969. Her two sons predeceased her. She was survived by her three stepchildren and her grandchildren.

From the guide to the Hallie Flanagan papers, 1923-1963, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969. Correspondence with Grant Code, 1936-39. (24 items). New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Curtiss, Mina Kirstein, 1896-1985. Mina Kirstein Curtiss papers, 1915-1978 (bulk 1918-1945). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Baker, George Pierce, 1866-1935. Papers of George Pierce Baker, 1882-1926 (inclusive), 1890-1926 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Fonds Edward Gordon Craig Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des arts du spectacle
creatorOf Hallie Flanagan Davis Papers 1938-1964 Smith College Archives
creatorOf Federal Theatre Project (New York, N.Y.). Correspondence with Margaret Naumburg, 1938. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Hallie Flanagan papers from the Federal Theater Project Archives of American Art
creatorOf Hallie Flanagan papers, 1923-1963 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Federal Theatre Project (U.S.). Federal Theatre Project collection, 1932-1943 (bulk 1935-1939). Library of Congress
referencedIn Sophia Smith Collection. Theater Collection, 1870-1982 (bulk 1970-1980). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Mina Kirstein Curtiss Papers RG 42., 1915-1978, 1918-1945 Smith College Archives
referencedIn Muriel Rukeyser Papers, 1844-1986, (bulk 1930-1979) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Federal Theatre Project Collection, 1932-1943, (bulk 1935-1939) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Papers, 1935-1939. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Vassar College Drama Department records, 1910-2003. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Hallie Flanagan papers, 1904-1987. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. Papers, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1883-1971, 1908-1971 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969. Federal Theatre Project visual materials, 1935-1937 and n.d. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Sawyer Falk papers relating to the Federal Theater Project Archives of American Art
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gilder, Rosamond. Papers, 1917-1949. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Robert C. Schnitzer and Marcella Cisney papers, ca.1890-1989 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Fireman, Hyman. Hyman Fireman papers, 1931-1939. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1924]-1939. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969. Hallie Flanagan papers, 1923-1963. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn George Freedley papers, 1861-1971, 1935-1966 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Mabie, Edward Charles, 1892-1956. Papers of Edward C. Mabie, 1910-1954. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Papers, 1912-1970 (inclusive), 1912-1954 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Helen Drusilla Lockwood papers, 1883-1971. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969. Correspondence, with Agnes Inglis, 1936-1946. University of Michigan
referencedIn Holger Cahill Papers, 1907-1983, 1942-1959 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Federal Theatre Project (U.S.). Records, 1939-1976 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Rice, Elmer, 1892-1967,. Elmer Rice letters from various correspondents, 1915-1967. Houghton Library
creatorOf Adamic, Louis, 1899-1951,. Letters to Alfred Kreymborg [manuscript], 1921-1956. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Victor S. Clark Papers, 1827-1944 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Baker, George Pierce, 1866-1935. George Pierce Baker papers, 1878-1958 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf National Theatre Conference. Records, 1932-2001. Indiana University
creatorOf Rowe, Kenneth Thorpe, 1900-. Federal Theatre Project correspondence, 1936-38. University of Michigan
referencedIn Freedley, George, 1904-1967. George Freedley papers, 1861-1971, 1935-1966. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Schnitzer, Robert C. Robert C. Schnitzer and Marcella Cisney papers, ca. 1890-1989. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Theater Collection MS 450., 1870-1982 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Records of Radcliffe College President Ada Louise Comstock, 1923-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969. Hallie Flanagan Davis papers, 1938-1964. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Alter, Martha, 1904-1976. Martha Alter papers, 1923-1942. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Rosamond Gilder papers, 1917-1949 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Ballou, Ellen Bartlett, 1905-. Letters : from various correspondents, 1926-1927. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of Shirley Graham Du Bois, 1865-1998 (inclusive), 1905-1975 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Elmer Rice letters from various correspondents, 1915-1967. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Muriel Rukeyser collection of papers, 1920-1976, 1931-1976 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Clothier, Florence, 1903-1987. Papers, 1885-1982 (inclusive), 1916-1982 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Paul Eliot Green Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Rosamond Gilder Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lee R. Norvelle Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Alter, Martha, 1904-1976. person
associatedWith Arteff Theatre (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Arteff Theatre (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Atkinson, Brooks, 1894-1984 person
associatedWith Baker, George Pierce, 1866-1935. person
associatedWith Ballou, Ellen Bartlett, 1905- person
associatedWith Becque, Don Oscar. person
associatedWith Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Dance Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
associatedWith Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960 person
correspondedWith Clark, Victor S. (Victor Selden), 1868-1946. person
associatedWith Clothier, Florence, 1903-1987. person
associatedWith Coburn, Charles person
associatedWith Code, Grant Hyde. person
associatedWith Comstock, Ada Louise. person
associatedWith Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) person
associatedWith Curtiss, Mina Kirstein, 1896- person
associatedWith Davis, Philip person
associatedWith Davis, Philip. person
associatedWith Davis, Philip Haldane, 1901-1940. person
associatedWith Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977. person
correspondedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
associatedWith Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. person
associatedWith Falk, Sawyer, 1898-1961. person
associatedWith Federal Dance Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Federal Theater Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Federal Theater Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Federal Theatre Project (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Fireman, Hyman. person
associatedWith Freedley, George, 1904-1967. person
associatedWith Gilder, Rosamond. person
associatedWith Green, Paul, 1894-1981. person
associatedWith Grinell College corporateBody
associatedWith Grinnell College corporateBody
associatedWith Hopkins, Harry person
associatedWith Hopkins, Harry. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Harry L. (Harry Lloyd), 1890-1946. person
associatedWith Hughes, Gareth, 1894-1965. person
associatedWith Hughes, Glenn, 1894-1964 person
associatedWith Inglis, Agnes, 1870-1952. person
correspondedWith Komisarjevsky, Theodore, 1882-1954 person
associatedWith Kopel, Harold. person
associatedWith Kuhn, Julia. person
associatedWith Lavery, Emmet, 1902-1986. person
associatedWith Lenninger, August. person
associatedWith Lockwood, Helen Drusilla, 1891-1971. person
associatedWith Mabie, Edward Charles, 1892-1956. person
associatedWith MacCracken, H. N. (Henry Noble), b. 1880. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith National Theatre Conference. corporateBody
associatedWith Norvelle, Lee Roy, 1892- person
associatedWith Poole, Gregory. person
associatedWith Rice, Elmer, 1892-1967. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Rowe, Kenneth Thorpe, 1900- person
correspondedWith Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980. person
associatedWith Samuelson, Sophie. person
associatedWith Sarton, May, 1912-1995. person
associatedWith Schnitzer, Robert C. person
associatedWith SHIRLEY GRAHAM DU BOIS, 1896-1977 person
associatedWith Smith College corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities. corporateBody
associatedWith Vassar College corporateBody
associatedWith Vassar College. Dept. of Drama corporateBody
associatedWith Vassar College. Vassar Experimental Theatre. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Europe
United States
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--Poughkeepsie
Soviet Union
New York (State)--Poughkeepsie
United States
New York (N.Y.)
Europe
United States
United States
Soviet Union
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Actors
Amateur theater
Children's plays
College theater
College theater
Drama
Dramatists
Experimental theater
Experimental theatre
Federal aid to the performing arts
Federal aid to the theater
Federal aid to the theater
Federal aid to the theater
Jewish theater
New Deal, 1933-1939
Performing arts
Playwrights
Political plays
Puppets and puppet plays
Theater and state
Theatrical posters
Women in the theater
Workers' theater
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Women college teachers
Activity

Person

Birth 1890-08-27

Death 1969-07-23

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jw8nfg

Ark ID: w6jw8nfg

SNAC ID: 55872489