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Rose Franken (December 28, 1895 – June 22, 1988) was an American writer and playwright best known for her Claudia stories, plus the books, films, and plays based on them.

Early years

Born Rose Dorothy Lewin[1] in Gainesville, Texas, Franken was the youngest child of Michael and Hannah Younker Lewin. When Franken was 12, the family moved to New York; there, she attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. After graduation, she planned to attend Barnard College but was wed instead.[1]

Career

Franken began writing after her second child was born. The editor to whom she sent her early work liked it and asked for more, thus beginning her career as a writer.[2]

Her books included Of Great Riches (1937), Strange Victory (1939), Claudia: The Story of A Marriage (1939), and When Doctors Disagree (1940). From her novel Claudia and a Redbook magazine serial story, "Claudia and David," Franken developed a play, a radio series (Claudia),[3] and two films. These works led to a television series,[4] Claudia (1952).

In 1963, Doubleday published Franken's autobiography, When All Is Said and Done.[5]

Franken's first play was Another Language (1932), which was the basis for the film Another Language (1933). Her next play was Claudia (1941).[1]

Personal life

On September 1, 1913, she married Sigmund Walter Anthony Franken, an oral surgeon who died on December 17, 1932.[6] They had three children,[2] including physicist Peter Franken.[failed verification] On April 27, 1937, she married writer William Brown Meloney. He died on May 4, 1971.[6]

She was one of the artists and writers to visit Melrose Plantation on the Cane River in Louisiana.[7][when?][clarification needed]

Death

Franken died on June 22, 1988, in Tucson, Arizona, at age 92. She was survived by her sons, Paul, John, and Peter; four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.[1][4]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Rose Franken, 92, Author of the 'Claudia' Stories". The New York Times. New York, New York City. June 24, 1988. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kerr, Adelaide (January 27, 1942). "Texas-Born Rose Franken Prefers To Write From Life". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Texas, Corpus Christi. Associated Press. p. 2-B. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Mother Role". The News-Palladium. October 1, 1947. p. 9. Retrieved March 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b Sherilyn Brandenstein, "Rose Dorothy Lewin Franken," The Handbook of Texas Online
  5. ^ Jacobson, Betty (October 25, 1963). "When All Is Said and Done". Carrol Daily Times Herald. Iowa, Carroll. p. 6. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b Frank, Glenda. "Rose Franken 1895 - 1988". Encyclopedia. Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  7. ^ James Lynwood Wilson, Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist, p. 22. Pelican Publishing Company (1990) ISBN 0-88289-658-X

External links