Grace Alexander (1872–1951) was an American author, journalist, and teacher. She wrote in several genres including plays, novels, and textbooks. Her work as society editor of Indianapolis News included music and drama criticism, as well as a weekly women's section. With her sister, Georgia Alexander, Grace owned and operated a women's boarding house in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Grace Alexander
19th-century B&W portrait photo of a young woman with her hair in an up-do, wearing a dark, high-collared blouse with puffy sleeves.
Portrait photo from The Indianapolis woman, 1896
BornGrace Caroline Alexander
June 14, 1872
Indianapolis, Indiana
DiedOctober 1, 1951 (aged 79)
Indianapolis
Resting placeCrown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis
Occupation
  • writer
  • journalist
  • teacher
Alma materIndiana University
Genre
  • plays
  • novels
  • textbooks
Notable worksJudith
RelativesGeorgia Alexander (sister)

Early life and education

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Grace Caroline Alexander was born on June 14, 1872, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] Her parents were George N. and Caroline (Nichols) Alexander.[2]

She was educated at Indianapolis High School (later renamed Shortridge High School),[2] and Indiana University (1912).[3]

Career

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Photo from The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega, 1913

Alexander taught English[4] in Indianapolis schools for many years.[5] In 1891–1903, she was a society editor, editorial writer, and music critic of the Indianapolis News.[1] She wrote all of the musical criticisms, as well as many of the dramatic comments. Every Saturday, the News published a supplement of four pages directed to women. A considerable amount of Alexander's time was occupied every week in editing this supplement.[6] After 1904, she was a professional manuscript reader at the Bobbs-Merrill Company.[5] In 1913, she became the editor of Delta Zeta's The Lamp.[3][7]

With her sister, Georgia Alexander, Grace was the author of Child Classics, The Fourth Reader (1909), Child Classics, The Fifth Reader (1909), and Child Classics: The Sixth Reader (1917). Grace Alexander was the author of Judith and other publications.[1]

Grace and Georgia owned and operated Aberdeen House,[4] a private hotel in Indianapolis.[8]

Personal life

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In religion, she was Episcopalian. Alexander was a member of the Contemporary Club.[2]

Grace Alexander died in Indianapolis, on October 1, 1951, with burial in that city's Crown Hill Cemetery.[4][9]

Selected works

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  • A comedy at court; a play in 4 acts, founded on an incident in Alexander Dumas' novel, "The three musketeers", 1898[10]
  • Judith: A Story of the Candle-Lit Fifties (illustrated by George Wright), 1906 (text)
  • Child Classics, The Fourth Reader (with Georgia Alexander), 1909
  • Child Classics, The Fifth Reader (with Georgia Alexander), 1909 (text)
  • Child Classics: The Sixth Reader (with Georgia Alexander), 1917 (text)
  • Prince Cinderella, 1921 (text)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Herringshaw, Thomas William (1923). American Journalist and Author Blue Book. American Blue Book Publishers. p. 36. Retrieved 4 May 2024.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c Woman's Who's who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada. American Commonwealth Company. 1914. p. 42. Retrieved 4 May 2024.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b "The Lamp of Delta Zeta". The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi. 30 (2). Pi Beta Phi Fraternity: 122. 1913. Retrieved 4 May 2024.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b c "Ex-Teacher, Writer Dies In Hospital". The Indianapolis Star. 3 October 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Indiana Authors and their books, 1816-1980". webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Indianapolis Newspaper Women". The Indianapolis Woman an Illustrated Journal. 1 (12). Indianapolis, Indiana: 10. 25 January 1896. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via digitalindy.org.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Alpha Chi Omega (January 1913). "The Lamp of Delta Zeta". The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega. 16 (2). Alpha Chi Omega.: 123. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Death of Georgia Alexander". The Indianapolis Star. 22 November 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Newspapers.com.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "Grace Alexander Burial Tomorrow". The Indianapolis News. 3 October 1951. p. 18. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Library of Congress Copyright Office (1918). Dramatic Compositions Copyrighted in the United States, 1870 to 1916 ... U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 4 May 2024.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.