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Alice White (writer)

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Alice M G White (b. 28th April, 1908, Carnoustie, Scotland, d. 3rd August 2007, New Jersey, USA) also known as Alicen White, was an award-winning author, playwright, editor, teacher and performer. She was on the staff of Girl Scouts of the USA for over 25 years.

Early life and education

Alice Margaret Geddes White was born in Carnoustie, Scotland on 28th April 1908 to John F. White, owner of Dundee Flour Mills[1]and Mary White of Providence, RI.[2] The business closed when White was 16 years old, after which the family moved to Vancouver, Canada,[3]where she attended King George Secondary School. She gained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia in 1929, having supported herself with several scholarships, including the University Scholarship for 1930 - 1931.[4][5] She earned a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Smith College, Massachusetts then went on to further graduate studies at Columbia University, New York.[6] She studied acting at the Everyman Theatre School[7] in London, in Vancouver and with Gene Frankel in New York.[8]

Personal Life

White became a naturalized American on 26th July 1943. She met her partner, Martha Davis Coe (1907-1986), an entertainment producer[9][10]and composer for TV, while they were both working for the GSUSA.[11] They lived together in New York City until 1971, when they moved to Rumson, NJ. White was a member of the Monmouth County Chapter of Zonta International.[12] She moved to King James Nursing Home, Rumson in old age.

Work

Between 1930 – 1934, White taught English and dramatics at Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, RI.[13] Working with fellow teacher Janet E Tobitt, she published her first book One Act Trips Abroad[14] in 1931. They would go on to write four books together. She taught English and dramatics at Greenwich Academy, CN from 1938 – 1941.[15] In 1941, White and Tobitt taught intensive folk-dance and dramatics courses at Purdue University, Indiana.[16]

In 1943 White joined the American Red Cross as an assistant Program Director. She was stationed in Capri, Italy, Germany, England and North Africa.[17][18][19] From 1947 – 1948 she taught at the University of Kentucky. She worked for the US Government’s Information and Education Department in Germany and England, [20] returning to the USA in 1953.[21]

In 1961, White and Coe established May White Corporation, through which they developed and sold Grandmother’s Favourite Furniture Cream, based on a recipe from White’ s mother, and Wurry Beads, Lucite imitations of Worry beads.[22]

She was a member of the Paravent Theatrical Company in Providence, RI[23][24]and performed in several off-Broadway theatre productions in New York[25] as well as in New Jersey and New England. Between 1976 – 1986 White and Coe wrote, produced and performed two two-woman shows Music Hall Favourites and Oscar Wilde and Wonderful as Coe-White Associates, appearing in New York and New Jersey.[26][27] In 1989 White presented Ladies and Other Females, a one-woman show including excerpts from Shakespeare and Noel Coward.[28]

Girl Scouts of USA

White credited GSUSA for “encouraging her creative talents”.[29] She held many positions within the organisation, including Program Specialist[30], Advisor in the Leadership Bureau[31], Training Advisor[32], Advisor in the Training Division of the Personnel Department[33], Assistant to the Director of the Program Department[34] and, for several years, Director of Dramatics at the Girl Scout National Training School.[35][36] She was Associate Editor for the Girl Scout Leader magazine from 1959 - 1966[37], joining the Editorial Board in 1963.

Writing, editing and recording

White wrote in multiple genres including gothic romance, children’s fiction, Girl Scout articles, song lyrics and plays. Her editor was Frieda Fishbein.[38][39]

Plays co-authored with Janet E Tobitt

  • One Act Trips Abroad (1931)[40]
  • Dramatized Ballads with Musical Accompaniment (1937)[41] also with Barbara Danielson
  • Plays for High Holidays with Incidental Dancing and Music (1939)[42]
  • The Saucy Sailor and Other Dramatized Ballads (1940)[43]

Works for Choral Reading

Choral reading is reading aloud in unison as group to help build fluency and self-confidence.

  • Anthology of Choral Readings (1944)[44]
  • A Bouquet of Poems, Selected and Arranged for Choral Speaking (1966)[45] illustrated by Martha Coe. It included a 33.3 rpm record narrated by Joel Templeton.

Girl Scouts

White wrote pageants, productions for conventions and other special events, and many Girl Scout Leader articles.[46] She also wrote:

  • Dramatic Cues for Girl Scout Leaders (1937)[47]
  • Recruiting Volunteers (1955)[48] with Margaret Delano
  • Recruiting, Selecting and Placing Volunteers (1960)[49]
  • The Golden Promise: A Fiftieth Anniversary Ceremony for Girl Scout Councils (1962)[50]
  • It’s Up To Us! A Ceremony for Girl Scouts (1963)[51] (an adaptation of the closing ceremony used at the 36th National Convention at Miami Beach)
  • Brownies’ Own Songbook (1968)[52] with music by Martha Coe. It sold over 150,000 copies[53]

Lyrics

  • My World In You (1959) with music by Martha Coe
  • Until You Said Goodbye (1959) with music by Martha Coe

Gothic Romance

Writing under the pseudonym Alicen White, she published five gothic romance novels, one of which Nor Spell Nor Charm, received the Edgar Allen Poe Scroll Award in the Best Paperback Original category at the 1972 Mystery Writers of America Awards.[54]

  • Dirge for a Lady (1968)[55]
  • Nor Spell, Nor Charm (1972)[56] recipient of the Edgar Allen Poe Scroll Award, MWA Awards
  • Evil that Walks Invisible (1973)[57]
  • The Traitor Within (1974)[58]
  • The Watching Eye (1977)[59]

Musical Plays

White wrote the book and / or lyrics to three musical plays, with music by Martha Coe.

  • The Absent Minded Dragon (1963) book by James Truax, musical director Anne McLarnon. It appeared at Stage 73, off-Broadway and ran for almost three years.[60][61] The cast included Robert Campuzano, Ruth Coleman and Al Kavanagh.[62]
  • The Brownies (1964)[63] a dramatized musical inspired by Juliana H Ewing’s story of the same name from 1865.[64] It appeared at the Renata Theatre, New York, with White featuring in the cast and on an associated LP.[65]
  • The Enchanted Forest (1964)[66]

Young Visiters

In 1960, White and Coe, together with lyricist Peter Colonna, wrote the two-act musical comedy Quite A Young Girl, with a libretto taken from 9-year old Daisy Ashford’s best-selling novel The Young Visiters (1919). Several playwrights had previously attempted to adapt the novel for the stage, but none of their efforts was deemed acceptable by the author. Coe and White’s version was reported to have received the author’s blessing, but they ultimately failed to find a producer.[67]

Others

  • The Actor’s Art and Job (1942)[68] by Harry Irvine, for which White wrote the preface
  • The Last Train Out (1962) a screenplay, written with Mary Jean Parson, Susan Wayne and Martha Coe[69]
  • Folly to be Wise (1964) a comic play in three acts
  • Walter in Love (1973)[70] a children’s book, illustrated by Ruth Rosekrans Hoffman


  1. ^ "Alicen White". Ashbury Park Press. Ashbury Park, New Jersey. 2007-08-16. p. 6.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "In North Africa". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. 1944-03-04. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Alicen White". Ashbury Park Press. Ashbury Park, New Jersey. 2007-08-16. p. 6.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "University of B.C. ends year with a record". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. 1927-05-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Results of tests are out". The Vancouver Sun. Victoria, British Columbia. 1927-05-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Marybeth Allen (1971-05-06). "Writer Creates Suspense". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Music Hall, Jazz Trio to Perform". Echoes-Sentinel. Warren Township, New Jersey. 1984-01-26. p. 40. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Mountainside Club Women To Hear Music Favorites" (PDF). The Westfield. Red Bank, New Jersey. 1979-09-06. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Brownie Songs". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 1976-10-24. p. 5.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Marybeth Allen (1971-05-06). "Writer Creates Suspense". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "'Wurry Beads' Designed for Worry Birds". Newsday. Melville, New York. 1961-04-01. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Author's Dog was inspiration for Love Story for Children". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. 1973-03-05. p. 13. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Service Honor Roll" (PDF). The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. April 1944. p. 93. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  14. ^ Tobitt, Janet E.; White, Alice M. G. (1931). One Act Trips Abroad. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Ltd.
  15. ^ "Summer Courses for Folk Dancing". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. 1941-03-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-01-01. and at present a member of the faculty at Greenwich academy, Greenwich, Conn.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Summer Courses for Folk Dancing". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. 1941-03-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-01-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Alicen White". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 2007-08-16. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Marybeth Allen (1971-05-06). "Writer Creates Suspense". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "In North Africa". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. 1944-03-04. p. 11. Miss Alice M.G. White, American Red Cross assistant program director, has arrived safely in North Africa.
  20. ^ "Alicen White". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 2007-08-16. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Poe Scroll Award Winner is a Resident of Rumson". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. 1972-05-09. p. 13. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "'Wurry Beads' Designed for Worry Birds". Newsday. Melville, New York. 1961-04-01. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Dramatics, Dance Institute will be University Event". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. 1941-06-04. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-01-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Music Hall, Jazz Trio to Perform". Echoes-Sentinel. Warren Township, New Jersey. 1984-01-26. p. 40. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Mountainside Club Women To Hear Music Favorites" (PDF). The Westfield. Red Bank, New Jersey. 1979-09-06. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Charles Hill (1977-11-07). "Rumson Pair Attempts Revival of Old British Music Hall Acts". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 50. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "Oscar Wilde Program at Women's Club". Montclair Times. Montclair, New Jersey. 1983-03-11. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Actress will be speaker at Women's meeting". The Coast Star. Manasquan, New Jersey. 1989-04-13. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "Author! Author!". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 50, No. 7 ed.). New York. November 1970. p. 30. A former National staff member, Alicen White… credits Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. for encouraging her creative talents.
  30. ^ "Alicen White". Ashbury Park Press. Ashbury Park, New Jersey. 2007-08-16. p. 6.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ Alice White (February 1955). "My Country 'Tis of Thee". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 32, No. 2 ed.). New York. p. 12.
  32. ^ Alice White (May 1956). "Trouble Shooter". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 33, No. 5 ed.). New York. p. 10.
  33. ^ Alice White (May 1957). "Man Hunt". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 34, No. 5 ed.). New York. p. 13.
  34. ^ Alice White (April 1959). "Friendship- far and wide". Girl Scout Leader (Vol 36. No. 4 ed.). New York. p. 10.
  35. ^ "Dramatics, Dance Institute will be University Event". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. 1941-06-04. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ The Woman’s Press Vol 34. Washington, DC: National Board of Young Women’s Christian Association. 1940. p. 43.
  37. ^ "Author! Author!". Girl Scout Leader (Vol 50 No 7 ed.). New York. November 1973. p. 30.
  38. ^ Marybeth Allen (1971-05-06). "Writer Creates Suspense". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ Turner, Barry (1996). The Writer’s Handbook, 1996. London: Macmillan Reference Books. p. 436. ISBN 0333638328.
  40. ^ Tobitt, Janet E.; White, Alice M. G. (1931). One Act Trips Abroad. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Ltd.
  41. ^ Tobitt, Janet E.; White, Alice M. G.; Danielson, Barbara (1937). Dramatized Ballads with Musical Accompaniment. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Ltd.
  42. ^ Tobitt, Janet E.; White, Alice M. G. (1939). Plays for High Holidays: With Incidental Music and Dancing. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc.
  43. ^ Tobitt, Janet E.; White, Alice M. G.; Rawdon, John (1940). The Saucy Sailor and other dramatized ballads. New York, New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc.
  44. ^ White, Alice (1944). Anthology of Choral Readings. New York: Girl Scouts of the USA.
  45. ^ White, Alicen (1966). A Bouquet of Choral Readings selected and arranged for Choral Speaking. East Orange, NJ: Triad Publishing Co.
  46. ^ "Author! Author!". Girl Scout Leader (Vol 46 No.8 ed.). New York. November 1969. p. 31.
  47. ^ White, Alice M G (1937). Dramatic Cues for Girl Scout Leaders. New York: Girl Scouts of USA.
  48. ^ White, Alice; Delano, Margaret (1955). Recruiting volunteers. New York: Girl Scouts of the USA.
  49. ^ White, Alice (1960). Recruiting, Selecting and Placing Volunteers. New York: Girl Scouts of the USA.
  50. ^ White, Alice (1962). The Golden Promise: A Fiftieth Anniversary Ceremony for Girl Scout Councils. New York: Girl Scouts of the USA.
  51. ^ White, Alice (1963). It’s up to us!: A Ceremony for Girl Scouts. New York: Girl Scouts of the USA.
  52. ^ White, Alicen; Coe, Martha (1968). Brownies’ Own Songbook. New York: Roos and Coe-White Associates.
  53. ^ "Brownie Songs". Ashbury Park Press. Ashbury Park, New Jersey. 1976-10-24. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ^ "Author! Author!". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 49, No. 7 ed.). New York. November 1972. p. 34. Nor Spell Nor Charm, which received a Scroll Award from Mystery Writers of America as one of the five best mysteries published in paperback in 1971.
  55. ^ White, Alicen (1968). Dirge for a Lady. New York: Lancer Books.
  56. ^ White, Alicen (1972). Nor Spell, Nor Charm. New York: Lancer Books.
  57. ^ White, Alicen (1973). Evil that walks invisible. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
  58. ^ White, Alicen (1974). The traitor within. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
  59. ^ White, Alicen (1977). The watching eye. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
  60. ^ Marybeth Allen (1971-05-06). "Writer Creates Suspense". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-01-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ "Oscar Wilde Program At Women's Club". The Montclair Times. Montclair, New Jersey. 1983-03-10. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  62. ^ "The Absent- Minded Dragon > Original Off-Broadway Cast". castalbums.org. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  63. ^ cite AV |title=The Brownies |last1=White |first1=Alicen |last 2=Coe |first2=Martha |format= 12” 33 rpm |publisher=Cosmo |location=New York}}
  64. ^ ""The Brownies" on record". Girl Scout Leader (Vol. 41, No. 7 ed.). New York. October 1964. p. 31.
  65. ^ "Martha Coe: The Brownies". discogs.com. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  66. ^ "Author's Dog was inspiration for Love Story for Children". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. 1973-03-05. p. 13. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  67. ^ "Daisy Returns". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. 1962-11-22. p. 63. Retrieved 2022-01-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  68. ^ Irvine, Harry (1942). The Actor’s Art and Job. New York: E.P.Dutton.
  69. ^ Contemporary authors; a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television and other fields. Detroit: Gale Research Co. 1962. p. 307.
  70. ^ Walter in love. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 1973.
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