De Forest, Marian, 1864-1935

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Marian de Forest (February 27, 1864 – February 17, 1935) was an American journalist, playwright, major force in the progressive women's movement, and founder of Zonta (later Zonta International), a service organization of women professionals. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2001.

She graduated from Buffalo Seminary in 1884. Thereafter, she became one of the first female reporters in Western New York State and wrote for The Buffalo Evening News and then with The Buffalo Commercial.

Herself a leading playwright, she supported women's role in the theater. De Forest also co-founded the Buffalo Musical Foundation, thereby bringing the American Opera Company to Western New York. She also played a prominent role in the formation of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1919, she founded Zonta, "a service organization of executive women working to improve the legal, political, economic and professional status of women worldwide." Zonta is a Lakota Sioux Indian word that means "honest and trustworthy." In one of her early speeches, de Forest explained, "Zonta stands for the highest standards in the business and professional world ... seeks cooperation rather than competition and considers the Golden Rule not only good ethics but good business". De Forest envisioned Zonta to become an international organization. In her own words, "This is the woman's age and in distant lands and foreign climes women of all nations are rallying to the call … Zonta is given the opportunity of uniting them into one great, glorious whole."

De Forest's drama papers are in the collection of the Buffalo History Museum.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lucien Howe papers, 1892-1940 (inclusive), 1907-1931 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf De Forest, Marian, 1864-1935. Mary 39 : a play in three acts and four scenes / by Marian de Forest and John D. Wells. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Rare Books
referencedIn Torge, Martha J. Letter and essay about Marian de Forest, 1934, 1962. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf DE FOREST, MARIAH. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf De Forest, Marian, 1864-1935. Erstwhile Susan : a play in three acts / by Marian De Forest ; based on the novel Barnabetta by Helen R. Martin ; revised August 1930. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Rare Books
referencedIn Women's History in Buffalo and Western New York Collection (State University of New York at Buffalo). Zonta International Club of Buffalo scrapbooks, ca. 1930-2008. SUNY at Buffalo, University at Buffalo
creatorOf Marian de Forest, -1935. Marian de Forest, -1935 papers, 1916-1961, 1916-1935 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf DeForest, Marian. Plays, 1920-1928. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf De Forest, Marian, 1864-1935. Drama papers, 1910-1961 (bulk 1910-1935). Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Miller, Jane, 1927-. Trespassing : play in three acts, Buffalo, New York, [1930?]. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Louisa May Alcott papers, 1849-1931. Houghton Library
creatorOf De Forest, Marian, 1864-1935. Mister man : a comedy in a prologue and three acts / by Marian de Forest ; based on a story by the same name by Frank R. Adams. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Rare Books
creatorOf Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph). Little Women / adapted by Marian de Forest ; from the story by Louisa M. Alcott ; directed by Leslie Yeo, 1955 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Buffalo NY US
Subject
Theater
Dramatists, American
Manuscripts
Mennonites
Political participation
Women
Occupation
Author
Dramatists
Playwright
Writer
Activity

Person

Birth 1864-02-27

Death 1935-02-17

Female

Americans

English

Information

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