Louise Treadwell
Encyclopedia
Louise Tracy born Louise Ten Broeck Treadwell, was the founder of the John Tracy Clinic
, a private, non-profit education center for the deaf that began in 1942. She was married to the Academy Award-winning actor Spencer Tracy
.
In 1915, Louise Treadwell enrolled at 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 had also joined the company. On September 12, 1923, they were married in Cincinnati, Ohio
.
On June 26, 1924, John, Louise and Spencer's first child, was born. Ten months later Louise 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.
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 1927, John was enrolled in the Wright Oral School. At three years of age, he was the youngest child they had ever accepted.
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.
In July 1932, the Tracys' 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.
Throughout their marriage, Spencer had engaged in numerous affairs with actresses Loretta Young
, Joan Crawford
, Myrna Loy
, Ingrid Bergman
and Gene Tierney
, and in 1942, Spencer Tracy co-starred with the actress Katharine Hepburn
in Woman of the Year
. The pair famously began a long-term romantic relationship that lasted until Spencer's death in 1967. During this time, Spencer and Louise became estranged but never divorced.
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 Tracys' son, was the result.
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."
Louise was also lauded in academic circles. In quick succession, she was granted honorary degrees from Northwestern University
, University of Southern California
, Lake Erie 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.
Louise Tracy's influence in governmental circles continued in the 1960s. 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.
The John Tracy Clinic continued to expand in the 1970s. Louise resigned as Director of the Clinic in October 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.
John Tracy Clinic
John Tracy Clinic is a private, non-profit education center for infants and preschool children with hearing loss in Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded by Louise Treadwell Tracy, wife of actor Spencer Tracy, in 1942. It provides free, parent-centered services worldwide...
, a private, non-profit education center for the deaf that began in 1942. She was married to the Academy Award-winning actor Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
.
Family
Louise Ten Broeck Treadwell's parents were Alliene Wetmore and Bright (Smith) Treadwell. Alliene Treadwell was a prominent attorney and part owner of the New Castle (PA) Daily News in New Castle. Louise's parents were divorced when she was a teenager.In 1915, Louise Treadwell enrolled at 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
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, which engaged her as the leading lady. There she met Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, who had also joined the company. On September 12, 1923, they were married in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
On June 26, 1924, John, Louise and Spencer's first child, was born. Ten months later Louise 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.
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 1927, John was enrolled in the Wright Oral School. At three years of age, he was the youngest child they had ever accepted.
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.
In July 1932, the Tracys' 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.
Throughout their marriage, Spencer had engaged in numerous affairs with actresses Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
, Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
, Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
and Gene Tierney
Gene Tierney
Gene Eliza Tierney was an American film and stage actress. Acclaimed as one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the title role of Laura and her Academy Award-nominated performance for Best Actress in Leave Her to Heaven .Other notable roles include...
, and in 1942, Spencer Tracy co-starred with the actress Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
in Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year is a romantic comedy film. The movie is about an emancipated woman, chosen "Woman of the Year", and her colleague-turned-husband and their efforts to negotiate a path to marital bliss....
. The pair famously began a long-term romantic relationship that lasted until Spencer's death in 1967. During this time, Spencer and Louise became estranged but never divorced.
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 CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
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 Tracys' son, was the result.
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."
Recognition
Louise Tracy was honored with many awards during the 1950s, 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.Louise was also lauded in academic circles. In quick succession, she was granted honorary degrees from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Lake Erie College
Lake Erie College
Lake Erie College is a private liberal arts college that is located in Painesville, Ohio, approximately east of Cleveland. As of the 2010-2011 academic year, the enrollment was approximately 1200 undergraduates and graduate students....
, and MacMurray College
MacMurray College
MacMurray College is a career-directed liberal arts college located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Its enrollment in fall 2011 was 548. It is from Springfield and from Chicago....
. 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.
Louise Tracy's influence in governmental circles continued in the 1960s. 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.
The John Tracy Clinic continued to expand in the 1970s. Louise resigned as Director of the Clinic in October 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
Girls and Boys Town
Boys Town, formerly Girls and Boys Town and Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for its children and families, with national headquarters in the village of Boys Town, Nebraska...
. The next year she was granted yet another honorary degree, this time a Doctor of Humane Letters from Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
in Wisconsin. And in 1977, she was given the Humanitarian Award by the National Auxiliary of AMVETS.