Ethel Watts Mumford

Ethel Watts Mumford (1876 or 78? – 1940) was an American author from New York City. "Mumford" came from her first husband George D Mumford, a lawyer[1] (married 1894–1901).

After her first husband grew intolerant of her prolific writing and art career, she fled to San Francisco in 1899 with their only child, a son. She sued for divorce on grounds of desertion. After the divorce was granted in 1901, she returned to New York, vowing never to remarry unless her husband accepted her career. On Jun 4, 1906 she married[2] Peter Geddes Grant of Grantown, Morayshire, Scotland.

The daughter of a wealthy businessman, she was given a fine education, topped by her study of painting at the Julian Academy of Paris. She traveled extensively in Europe, the Far East, and North America, experience that is well-reflected in her work.

Most of her early published works were written in San Francisco including her first novel, Dupes. She was a heavy producer of plays, vaudeville sketches, novels, short stories, joke collections, songs, poems, and articles. She also painted and illustrated books. In her teen years, after studying dramatic technique by reading 2,000 manuscripts, she turned to playwriting. Her farces were produced on New York and London stages. After her 1906 marriage she wrote for a time under the name "Ethel Watts Mumford Grant," adding her second husband's name, but eventually reverted to "Ethel Watts Mumford" as a byline.

Famous quotes

She said, "God gave us our relatives; thank God we can choose our friends."

She said, "Knowledge is power, if you know it about the right person."

With Addison Mizner and Oliver Herford

References

  1. ↑ New York Times, June 5, 1906
  2. ↑ New York Times, June 5, 1906
  3. ↑ Addison Mizner. The Many Mizners. Chicago: Sears, 1932. p. 186.
  4. ↑ The New York Times. January 10, 1903


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