Rachel Crothers (1878–1958)

The Wall Street Journal says: "Ms. Crothers, America's most successful woman playwright, is all but unknown today. She wrote some 30-odd plays that made it to Broadway, most of which she also directed and many of which were hits that were later filmed." Crothers' plays often dealt with the social and feminist issues affecting women in the early 20th century. Throughout her career, Crothers juggled her writing and directing with charitable work. During World War I, she founded the Stage Women's War Relief Fund. In 1940, she established the American Theater Wing for War Relief, which evolved into today’s American Theater Wing.