Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986

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Lucia Hosmer Chase Ewing was born March 24, 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Irving Hall Chase, President of Waterbury Clock Company, and Elizabeth Hosmer Kellogg Chase. Lucia was the middle child of five sisters: Marjorie, Eleanor (Mrs. Charles P. Taft), Elizabeth I. (Mrs. John Griffith Davies), and Dorothy (Mrs. Edward Carmody).

Lucia was educated at St. Margaret's School and Bryn Mawr College. She then moved to New York City to study theatre at the Theatre Guild School, and ballet with Mikhail Mordkin.

On December 28, 1926 she married Thomas Ewing, Jr., heir to the Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company fortune. They had two sons: Thomas III, and Alexander Cochran. Thomas, Jr. died of pneumonia in 1933; Thomas III died in a boating accident near Block Island, Rhode Island in 1963.

After her husband's death Lucia resumed her studies with Mordkin, making her dancing debut with his company in 1937. She rose to the rank of principal dancer and remained as such when the company became the Ballet Theatre in 1940.

Along with Oliver Smith, Lucia Chase was named co-director of Ballet Theatre (renamed American Ballet Theatre in 1957) in 1945, a position she held until 1980. She continued to perform well into the 1970s and was also one of the company's major financial supporters from its beginning as the Mordkin Ballet until her death on January 9, 1986.

From the guide to the Lucia Chase papers, circa 1899-1982, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sayler, Oliver M., 1887-1958. The Ballet Theatre / by Oliver M. Sayler. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Mikhail Mordkin papers, circa 1885-1979 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986,. Interview with Lucia Chase. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. Correspondence and contracts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Ter-Arutunian, Rouben, 1920-1992,. Interview with Rouben Ter-Arutunian. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Horvath, Ian,. Interview with Ian Horvath. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Alonso, Alicia, 1921-. Interview with Alicia Alonso. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Bowman, Patricia,. Interview with Patricia Bowman. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. Correspondence, 1938-1952. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Mordkin Ballet Company. Scrapbooks: U.S. and Canadian tour. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Payne, Charles,. Interview with Charles Payne. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation research files, 1920-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Wilson, Sallie,. Interview with Sallie Wilson. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Reed, Janet,. Interview with Janet Reed. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Baum, Edna Lucile. Edna Lucile Baum papers, 1890-1981. Newberry Library
referencedIn Agnes de Mille papers, 1926-1975 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf American Ballet Theatre. Correspondence with Agnes de Mille, 1941-1982. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Lincoln Kirstein papers, ca. 1914-1991 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf American Ballet Theatre. Correspondence, 1941-1982, with Agnes de Mille. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Vera Zorina papers Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Danielian, Leon, 1920-1997. Leon Danielian papers, 1930-1994. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Tippet, Clark,. Interview with Clark Tippet. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Agnes : the indomitable de Mille. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996. Papers, ca. 1914-1991. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Sutherland, Paul,. Interview with Paul Sutherland. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986,. Interview with Lucia Chase. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Tudor, Antony, 1909-1987,. Interview with Antony Tudor. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Mordkin Ballet Company. Scrapbook: Press clippings and programs. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia. American Ballet Theatre Collection, 1940- . Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Lucia Chase papers, circa 1899-1982 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Leon Danielian papers, 1930-1994 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Danielian, Leon, 1920-1997,. Interview with Leon Danielian. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986,. Interview with Lucia Chase. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. [Press clippings] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Douglas, Scott,. Interview with Scott Douglas. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Wilson, Sallie,. Interview with Sallie Wilson. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Carroll, Elisabeth,. Interview with Elisabeth Carroll. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf De Mille, Agnes. Papers, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn George Balanchine archive, 1924-1989 (inclusive), 1961-1983 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. Letters to Doris Humphrey, 1947. 1 folder (3 items). New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Parmenia Migel papers, 1945-1990. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Kivitt, Ted,. Interview with Ted Kivitt. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986,. Interview with Lucia Chase. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Jo Mielziner papers, 1903-1976 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Saddler, Donald,. Interview with Donald Saddler. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf De Mille, Agnes. Papers, 1918-1972. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Nault, Fernand,. Interview with Fernand Nault. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. Papers, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Mordkin, Mikhail, 1881-1944. Papers, ca.1885-1979. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986,. Interview with Erik Bruhn. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986. Miscellaneous letters. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Stroganova, Nina,. Interview with Nina Stroganova. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agnes de Mille person
associatedWith Alexander “Sandy. ” person
associatedWith Alonso, Alicia, 1921- person
associatedWith American Ballet Theatre. corporateBody
associatedWith American Ballet Theatre (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Anton Dolin person
associatedWith Antony Tudor person
correspondedWith Balanchine, George. person
associatedWith Ballet Theatre. corporateBody
associatedWith Ballet Theatre. corporateBody
associatedWith Ballet Theatre (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Baum, Edna Lucile. person
associatedWith Berman, Eugene, 1899- person
associatedWith Bowman, Patricia, person
associatedWith Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986. person
associatedWith Carroll, Elisabeth, person
associatedWith Charles Payne person
associatedWith Cynthia Gregory person
associatedWith Danielian, Leon, 1920-1997, person
associatedWith De Mille, Agnes person
associatedWith De Mille, Agnes. person
associatedWith Doris Humphrey person
associatedWith Dorothy “Dee” Carmody person
associatedWith Douglas, Scott, person
associatedWith Elizabeth “E. I. ” person
associatedWith Elizabeth Hosmer Kellogg Chase person
associatedWith E. Virginia Williams person
associatedWith Gruen, John, person
associatedWith Horvath, Ian, person
associatedWith Hugh Laing person
associatedWith Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958. person
associatedWith Irina Baronova person
associatedWith Irving Hall Chase person
associatedWith José Limón person
associatedWith Kaye, Nora, 1920-1987. person
associatedWith Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996. person
associatedWith Kivitt, Ted, person
associatedWith Lincoln Kirstein person
associatedWith Lizette” Davies person
associatedWith Loring, Eugene, 1914- person
associatedWith Lucia Chase person
associatedWith Lucia Chase's person
associatedWith Lucia's person
associatedWith Makarova, Natalia, 1940- person
associatedWith Maracci, Carmelita, 1911-1987 person
associatedWith Mathis, Bonnie. person
associatedWith Michael Kidd person
associatedWith Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976 person
correspondedWith Migel, Parmenia. person
associatedWith Mikhail Baryshnikov person
associatedWith Mikhail Mordkin. person
associatedWith Mordkin Ballet Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Mordkin, Mikhail, 1881-1944. person
associatedWith Nault, Fernand, person
associatedWith Oliver Smith person
associatedWith Oswald, Genevieve, person
associatedWith Payne, Charles, person
associatedWith Peter Lawrence person
associatedWith Pleasant, Richard, 1909-1961. person
associatedWith Reed, Janet, person
associatedWith Saddler, Donald, person
associatedWith Sayler, Oliver M., 1887-1958. person
associatedWith Smith, Oliver Lemuel, 1918-1994. person
associatedWith Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Stroganova, Nina, person
associatedWith Sutherland, Paul, person
associatedWith Ter-Arutunian, Rouben, 1920-1992, person
associatedWith Thomas III person
associatedWith Tippet, Clark, person
associatedWith Tudor, Antony, 1909-1987. person
associatedWith Wilson, Sallie, person
correspondedWith Zorina, Vera. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Manuscripts
Occupation
Activity

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Birth 1897

Death 1986

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Ark ID: w6bz67wd

SNAC ID: 45111182