Olive Thompson Cowell (1887–1984) was a patron of the arts and music, and a professor of International Relations.

Career

Cowell graduated from

Barnard College Barnard College of Columbia University is a private women's liberal arts college in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia ...

in 1910. She taught in high schools for several years before becoming professor at

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different b ...

. She went on to found the International Relations department as part of the Government program at San Francisco State University in 1927, the first International Relations department in the USA. She taught at the university until 1956.

Life

Cowell is the step-mother of pianist and composer

Henry Cowell Henry Dixon Cowell (; March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher and teacher. Marchioni, Tonimarie (2012)"Henry Cowell: A Life Stranger Than Fiction" ''The Juilliard Journal''. Retrieved 19 June 202 ...

. Henry was born when the family lived in Menlo Park. Olive schooled Henry at home. She was the third wife of Henry Clayton Blackwood Cowell, known as Harry Cowell, and they were married from 1866 to 1954. Cowell was a member of the Temple of the People, an offshoot of the

Theosophical Society The Theosophical Society, founded in 1875, is a worldwide body with the aim to advance the ideas of Theosophy in continuation of previous Theosophists, especially the Greek and Alexandrian Neo-Platonic philosophers dating back to 3rd century CE ...

. Henry Cowell was also influenced by Theosophy. As a teen he met the Irish Theosophist poet John Varian, and set some of his poetry to music.

Involvement in New Music Society

Cowell commissioned the Cowell House from architect Gertrude Comfort Morrow, a residence in San Francisco with a large living room to accommodate her son's recitals.

Irving Morrow Irving Foster Morrow (September 22, 1884 – October 28, 1952) was an American architect best known for designing the Golden Gate Bridge. Early life He was born and raised in Oakland, California, the son of Susie (née Kirkman) and James Alexand ...

, husband of Gertrude Comfort Morrow, was interested in music and played percussion with

Lou Harrison Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer, music critic, music theorist, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. Harrison initially wrote in a dissonant, ultramodernist style similar to his form ...

and

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading fi ...

. Olive and Henry Cowell moved into the house in 1933. It is considered the first modern residential building in San Francisco, located at 171 San Marcos Avenue. The house became Henry Cowell's 'headquarters' in San Francisco, and a gathering place for composers including Lou Harrison, Edgar Varese, and Arnold Schonberg. Cowell supported her son's projects including New Music Quarterly, a publication, and the New Music Society, which hosted concerts. Archival materials suggest that she also knew architect Lillian Bridgman.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowell, Olive 1887 births 1984 deaths San Francisco State University faculty American patrons of the arts Barnard College alumni 20th-century American philanthropists