An+Introduction+to+Susan+Glaspell

Original Author: R. L. Myers, ENG348 FL09 Revision:
 * An Introduction to Susan Glaspell **

According to the Susan Glaspell Society, she wrote “over fifty short stories, nine novels, eleven plays, and one biography”.1 The “biography” the Society refers to, //The Road to the Temple//2, is not only a biography of George Cram Cook, but also Susan’s autobiography, since she was Cook’s wife and continual companion from 1913 to his death in 1924.

Wikipedia introduces Susan Glaspell as follows3: “Susan Keating Glaspell (1 July 1876 – 27 July 1948) was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, actress, director, and bestselling novelist… As part of the Provincetown Players, she arranged for the first ever reading of Eugene O’Neill.”3 The Susan Glaspell Society states, “Glaspell was the co-founder with her husband George Cram Cook of the Provincetown Players (1916-1922), the Little Theatre that did most to promote American dramatists… It was largely thanks to Glaspell’s intervention that O’Neill’s first plays were performed…”

At least three authors have attempted to write biographies of Susan Glaspell. In 1966, Arthur E. Waterman wrote //Susan Glaspell// in the Twayne’s United States Authors Series.4 In 1983, Marcia Noe of Western Illinois University wrote //Susan Glaspell – Voice from the Heartland.//5 In 2005, Linda Ben-Zvi wrote //Susan Glaspell – Her Life and Times.//6 It is my hope that in this brief essay I will be able to convey a unique picture of Susan Glaspell’s life, and her contributions to 20th Century literature.

The Susan Glaspell Society provides interesting concise insights into her life and thinking, “Susan Glaspell had never liked to feel controlled or delimited; born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1876, she rebelled against society’s expectations and, rather than passively wait for a husband to appear, went to Drake University in Des Moines, graduating in June of 1899, and then worked as a reporter for the //Des Moines Daily News//.”

The most concise overview of Susan Glaspell’s life that I have come across is that in the Preface to Waterman’s //Susan Glaspell//4. “The first period in her life extends from her birth to 1913, when she married George Cram Cook and settled in Provincetown, Massachusetts. During these years Miss Glaspell established her career as a short-story writer and novelist. From 1913 until 1922 she was associated with the Provincetown Players, writing plays for that theater. After Cook’s death in Greece in 1924 and Miss Glaspell’s subsequent return to America, she wrote only two plays, so that her dramatic writing was limited to her period with the Players. From 1928 until her death in 1948, she once again wrote novels defining the particular values the Midwest has for the modern world.”

In her biography of Susan Glaspell, Marcia Noe states5, “It has been difficult to write about so elusive a personality as Susan Glaspell’s. A private person who rarely sought publicity, she was a Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist who was apparently unaware that her manuscripts and letters might one day be of interest to scholars, for she made no provisions for their preservation. Much of what has survived of her papers is held by the New York Public Library…”

The cover-fold for Ben-Zvi’s //Susan Glaspell// states6, “…America’s first important modern female playwright, winner of the 1931 Pulitzer Prize for drama, and one of the most respected novelists and short story writers of her time. In her life she explored uncharted regions and in her writing she created intrepid female characters who did the same. Born in Davenport, Iowa, just as America entered its second century, Glaspell took her cue from her pioneering grand parents as she sought to rekindle their spirit of adventure and purpose. A journalist by age eighteen, she worked her way through college as a reporter. In 1913 she and her husband, fellow Davenport iconoclast George Cram “Jig” Cook, joined the migration of writers from the Midwest to Greenwich Village and were at the center of the first American avant-garde. Glaspell was a charter member of its important institutions – the Provincetown Players, the Liberal Club, Heterodoxy – and a close friend of John Reed, Mary Heaton Vorse, Max Eastman, Sinclair Lewis, and Eugene O’Neill. Her plays launched an indigenous American drama and addressed pressing topics such as women’s suffrage, birth control, female sexuality, marriage equality, socialism, and pacifism.”

When Susan Glaspell was around 35 years old, she fell in love with George Cram (Jig) Cook who was in the process of getting married. The cover-fold for Ben-Zvi’s biography **mistakenly** states it this way, “At the age of thirty-five, she scandalized staid Davenport when she began an affair with then-married Jig Cook.” Susan Glaspell did scandalize Davenport, however, she fell in love with Jig **before** he was married.

Susan describes her love relationship with Jig in //the Road to the Temple//7, “Jig and I became friends. He would come and see me, or we would take walks, and talk about all things there were to talk about. Now life was taking us in different ways. I was about to embark on my first visit to New York. He would be married within a few months. But that last night something outside ourselves brought us together, and there was a new thing between us everafter.” Susan and Jig were later married and remained married until Jig died in 1924. After Jig passed away, Susan married Norman Matson, in 1925. This marriage was dissolved in 1931 (see Chronology below).

In this brief essay, I have attempted to give an overview of the life of Susan Glaspell by quoting freely from what I believe are the most relevant texts and web sites in regard to this unique woman. Waterman’s biography4 gives an interesting chronology, which I reproduce here.

1917 || Cook moved the Provincetown Players to Greenwich Village and established the Playwright’s Theatre. ||  1 Susan Glaspell Society []
 * Chronology of Susan Keating Glaspell **
 * 1882* || Susan keating Glaspell was born July 1 in Davenport, Iowa, to Elmer S. Glaspell and Alice Keating. ||
 * 1899 || Graduated with a Ph.B. from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. ||
 * 1901 || Returned to Davenport to become a full-time writer. ||
 * 1903 || Enrolled in the University of Chicago to do graduate work in English. ||
 * 1909 || First novel, //The Glory of the Conquered//, published. Royalties from this novel allowed her to spend the next year abroad with Lucy Huffaker, a lifelong friend. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1911 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Visioning //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1912 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lifted Masks, //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> a collection of short stories published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1913 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">April 14, married George Cram Cook in Weehawken, New Jersey. Moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where they lived summers, spending winters in New York. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1914 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suppressed Desires, //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">first one-act play, written with Cook. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1915 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fidelity, //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">published. First formal season of the Provincetown Players, who produced two of her one-acts at the Wharf Theater: //Suppressed Desires,// and in 1916, //Trifles.// ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1916-
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1919 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">March 21, first full-length play, //Bernice//, produced. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1920 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Plays //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1921 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">March 21, //Inheritors// produced. November 14, //The Verge// was produced. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1922 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">March, left for Greece with Cook. On April 27, //Chains of Dew// was produced at the Provincetown. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1924 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">January 14, George Cram Cook died in Delphi and was buried in Greece. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1925 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Married Norman Matson. This marriage was dissolved in 1931. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1927 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Road to the Temple //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1928 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June 24, //The Comic Artist,// a collaboration between Susan Glaspell and Norman Matson, was produced in London. //Brook Evans// published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1929 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fugitive’s Return //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1930 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">December 1, //Alison’s House// produced by the Civic Repertory Theatre and awarded the 1931 Pulitzer Prize in drama. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1931 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ambrose Holt and Family //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1934-1935 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Midwest Director for the Federal Theatre Project. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1939 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Morning is Near Us //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1940 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cherished and Shared of Old //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1942 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Norma Ashe //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1945 || //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Judd Rankin’s Daughter //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">published. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1948 || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">July 27, died of virus pneumonia. ||
 * The records at Drake University list Miss Glaspell as twenty-one years old at the time of her admission in 1897. This would make her birthdate 1876, six years earlier than the date listed in standard biographical reverences. I have not been able to examine her birth record, which might substantiate the earlier date.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Works Cited **

2Glaspell, Susan. //The Road to the Temple.// McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 2005.

3 []

4 Waterman, Arthur E. //Susan Glaspell//. Twayne’s United States Authors Series, Twayne Publishers, Inc. New York, 1966.

5 Noe, Marcia. //Susan Glaspell – Voice from the Heartland.// Western Illinois Monograph Series, Number 1, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois, 1983.

6 Ben-Zvi, Linda. //Susan Glaspell, Her Life and Times.// Oxford University Press, 2005.