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Louise Treadwell Tracy (July 31st, 1896–1983), wife of actor Spencer Tracy, was born Louise Treadwell in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Alliene Wetmore Treadwell and Bright Smith Treadwell. Alliene Treadwell was a prominent attorney and part owner of the New Castle Daily News in New Castle, PA. Louise's parents were divorced when she was a teenager. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining, as the final day of July. ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American film actor who appeared in 74 films from 1930 to 1967. ...

Family

In 1915, Louise Treadwell attended Lake Erie College and graduated with honors. During the next several years she pursued an acting career as a stage actor, primarily in stock companies. In early March 1923, Louise joined the Leonard Wood Players in White Plains, New York, which engaged her as the leading lady. There she met Spencer Tracy, who was also joined the company. On September 12, 1923, they were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American film actor who appeared in 74 films from 1930 to 1967. ...

On June 26, 1924, John, Louise and Spencer's first child, was born. Ten months later Mrs. Tracy discovered her son was deaf. Early in 1926 Louise met a deaf woman at a bridge party, who could lip read so well that Louise was encouraged that John might be able to have a normal life, in spite of his deafness. She took her son to a well-known specialist who confirmed a diagnosis of nerve deafness and told her that even though there was nothing medical intervention could do, John could learn how to talk and lip read and do anything a hearing person can do. June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

With new hope, Mrs. Tracy began working with John, using material from different schools. In 1927, John spoke aloud "Mama" for the first time. In June of 1927, John was enrolled in the Wright Oral School. At three years of age, he was the youngest child they had ever accepted. 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the summer of 1930, Spencer Tracy went to Hollywood to make his first film. John and Louise also traveled to Hollywood while Spencer was filming. On the train back to New York, John was struck with infantile paralysis. 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Poliomyelitis (polio) is a viral paralytic disease. ...

In July, 1932, the Tracy's daughter, Susie, was born and by March 1935 the family moved to a ranch in Encino, California where they lived for 19 years. During the 1930s Louise and Spencer both began playing polo and became accomplished polo players. 1935 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The John Tracy Clinic

In July 1942, Louise Tracy spoke for the first time on her experience as the mother of a deaf child at the University of Southern California at a banquet for the National Workshop of Social Workers and teachers and Parents of the Hard of Hearing. Louise spoke frequently and with increasing skill to numerous clubs and groups. It was during this time, that she and a group of mothers of deaf children decided to start a school for young deaf children and their parents. The John Tracy Clinic, named after the Tracy's son, was the result. This article is about the year. ... The University of Southern California (also known as USC, SC, and Southern California), Southern Californias oldest private research university, is located in the urban center of Los Angeles, California. ...

During the first years of the John Tracy Clinic, and particularly the first few months, Louise established many of the aspects of the Clinic's philosophy. She stressed the importance of parents being involved in the education of their children at a very young age and set up a program for them. Louise firmly believed that the Clinic should offer not only information but also support. And she insisted that the services be offered free of charge.

Louise's husband supported her work with the Clinic and in fact was its sole financial support in the beginning. In April 1951, he turned the world premiere of his new film, Father's Little Dividend, at the Egyptian Theater into a building fund-raiser for the Clinic's new site. Spencer's support was always strong, and over the years he personally donated more than a half a million dollars to the Clinic's work. His admiration for his wife was another constant. At the dedication of the new Clinic building, which was completed in 1952, he said to the visiting dignitaries, staff and press: "You honor me because I am a movie actor, a star in Hollywood terms. Well, there's nothing I've ever done that can match what Louise has done for deaf children and their parents." 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ...

Recognition

Louise Tracy was honored with many awards during the 1950's, including the 1951 Hearing Advancement Award from the Hearing Foundation, the Testimonial of Merit/Woman of the Year award from La Sertoma International in 1953, and the Sixth Annual Award of the Save the Children Foundation for 1955. Events and trends Technology United States tests the first fusion bomb. ...

Louise was also lauded in academic circles. In quick succession, she was granted honorary degrees from Northwestern University, University of Southern California, Lake Eire College and MacMurray College. And on the national level, in 1956 she was appointed to a four-year term as a member of the National Advisory Council on Vocational Rehabilitation. 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Louise Tracy's influence in governmental circles continued in the 1960's. She was appointed a member of the Neurological and Sensory Disease Advisory Committee of HEW in 1963; member of the National Advisory Board of the National technical Institute for the Deaf in 1965; and a member of the President's Task Force on the Physically Handicapped in 1969. Gallaudet College, the only college for the deaf in the United States, honored her with a Doctor of Letters degree in 1966. Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Gallaudet University was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ...

The John Tracy Clinic continued to expand in the 1970's. Louise resigned as Director of the Clinic in October of 1974 due to ill health. However, the honors continued to roll in for this dedicated woman, whose "mothers' group" had become the largest single service provider to parents of deaf children around the world. She was presented with the 1974 Award of Honor Otolaryngology the same month she resigned from the Clinic, and that same year was granted a Doctor of Humane Letters from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. In 1975, she received the Father Flanagan Award for Service to Youth from Boys Town. The next year she was granted yet another honorary degree, this time a Doctor of Humane Letters from Ripon College in Wisconsin. And in 1977, she was given the Humanitarian Award by the National Auxiliary of AMVETS. Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

Death

Mrs. Tracy died at 87 after a lengthy illness. One of her former fund-raising associates said at her funeral: "No one who knew her will forget her. Strength and love like hers goes on. It can never die".

External link

• The John Tracy Clinic