William Eugene McCown b. 27 Jul 1898 El Dorado Springs, Cedar, Missouri, USA d. 23 Apr 1966 Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA: Discovering My Ancestors

Discovering My Ancestors

1898 - 1966 (67 years)

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Name	William Eugene McCown
Born	27 Jul 1898	El Dorado Springs, Cedar, Missouri, USA [1, 2, 3]
Gender	Male
Residence	16 Jun 1900	Deepwater, Henry, Missouri, USA [4]
Residence	18 Apr 1910	Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, USA [5]
Eugene and Lauryane are living with their Aunt and Uncle Boyer.
Education	1914	Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, USA [6, 7]
	Central High School
Education	1917	Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, USA [8, 9]
	University of Missouri-Columbia (1917-1919)
Education	1919	New York, New York, USA [3]
	"Modern Art School"
Arrival	Jan 1920	San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA [2]
Travel	17 Jan 1920	West Indies [3, 10]
	Eugene toured the West Indies with John Blomshield (b.31 May 1897 Bay City, MI), the artist of the Hemingway portrait that appears on the dust jacket of "The Sun Also Rises", 1st ed.
Residence	Jul 1921	Paris, Île-de-France, France [11]
Eugene calls Paris his home for the next 9 years.
Occupation	1922	Paris, Île-de-France, France [12]
Artist by day...Jazz pianist at "Le Bœuf" by night.
	Le Bœuf sur le toit
Artwork	1923	Paris, Île-de-France, France [13]
	An oil painting of Nancy Cunard
Artwork	1924	Paris, Île-de-France, France [14]
	The frontispiece to René Crevel's book,"Détours"
Exhibit	1925	Paris, Île-de-France, France
	Galerie de L'Effort Moderne, Léonce Rosenberg
Periodical	Mar 1925	New York, New York, USA [15, 16]
	"The Little Review" (Source includes letters to Jane Kemp and a few of Eugene's paintings published in this issue). Included an article about Eugene by Rene Crevel.
Residence	1930	New York, New York, USA [17, 18]
Lafayette Hotel (University Place and 9th Street). He's with a James McCown (age 25, born in NY), relation listed as brother. Eugene has no brother.
	Lafayette Hotel (Manhattan, NY)
Exhibit	15 Mar 1930	New York, New York, USA [19, 20]
	Marie Sterner Galleries (11 East 57th St.). The exhibition ran from March 15th - 28th. See source for the portfolio.
Article about Eugene McCown	14 May 1930	Sedalia, Pettis, Missouri, USA [21]
		Newspapers.com - The Sedalia Democrat - 14 May 1930
Travel	Abt 1932	Antwerpen, Belgium [22]
Residence	27 Nov 1933	New York, New York, USA [22]
Address: 166 E. 61st St.
Residence	20 Nov 1934	New York, New York, USA [23]
Chelsea Hotel. 222 West 23rd Street, Manhattan. See Source for letter written to Andrew Dasburg.
	Chelsea Hotel - West 23rd St and 7th Ave (NYC)
Exhibit	23 Feb 1937	New York, New York, USA [24, 25]
	Federal Art Project Gallery (7 East 38th St.)
		Exhibition of WPA Painters at Federal Art Project Gallery (1937)
Exhibit	2 Nov 1938	New York, New York, USA [26]
	Whitney Museum of American Art (10 West 8th St.)
		Whitney Museum to Open Its Annual Show
Residence	1940	New York, New York, USA [27]
Address: 15 W. 29th Street
Occupation	22 Sep 1945	Utica, Oneida, New York, USA
Touring Army and Navy Hospitals for the USO Camp Shows...this one at Rhodes Hospital
	Artist Will Visit Rhoads (Syracuse NY Journal)
Author	1950	New York, New York, USA [28]
	"Siege of Innocence"
Residence	1964	New York, New York, USA [29]
Eugene's last known address: 1107 Second Ave.
Died	23 Apr 1966	Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA [30, 31]
	Cause: Pneumonia
	Per my phone conversation with Jérome Kagan 03/03/2021: Eugene tried to commit suicide on March 20th, 1966 by ingesting a number of pills and alcohol. He was found on the floor the next day by a friend of his, Gabriel Oriol, who took him to the hospital. Eugene survived for one month before he ultimately died of pneumonia. Mr. Kagan received this information (and more) from a gentleman who knew Eugene. Additional information can be found in Mr Kagan's book: Eugene McCown: Démon des années folles
Buried	Eugene's place of burial has not yet been found. Eugene was destitute and starving at the time before his death. It's possible he was buried in Potter's Field in New York. Or maybe taken home to Missouri? We may never know.
Person ID	I345	Discovering My Ancestors
Last Modified	4 Mar 2021

Father William Henry McCown, b. 7 Aug 1870, Henry County, Missouri, USA , d. 28 Mar 1961, Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, USA (Age 90 years)

Mother Inez Boyer, b. 24 Apr 1877, Indiana, USA , d. 26 Jan 1909, Deepwater, Henry, Missouri, USA (Age 31 years)

Married Feb 1896 Henry County, Missouri, USA

Children 2 children

1. William Eugene McCown, b. 27 Jul 1898, El Dorado Springs, Cedar, Missouri, USA

, d. 23 Apr 1966, Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA

2. Laurayne Inez McCown, b. 10 Aug 1904, Deepwater, Henry, Missouri, USA

, d. 19 Oct 2001, Baxter County, Arkansas, USA

Family ID F70 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Histories » Slide Show		About William Eugene McCown
		Eugene MacCown Exhibit, March 15-27 ( Marie Sterner Galleries)
		Whitney Museum to Open Its Annual Show

Sources

[S272] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, (Registration Date: 09 Sep 1918. Place: Henry, Missouri).
Birth: 27 Jul 1898 Nearest Relative: William H. McCown; Address: Dee pwater, MO
[S299] Puerto Rico, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1901-1962, Year: 1920.
[S622] U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925, (Issued: 17 Jan 1920, Passport # 160056).
"I, William Eugene McCown,...solemnly swear that I was born i n Eldorado Springs in the state of Missouri on the 27th day of July, 1 898, that my father, William H. McCown was born in Windsor, Missouri a nd is now residing at 501 Green Street, Clinton, Missouri. My permanen t residence being at New York City, NY where I follow the occupation o f artist...I desire a passport to visit the following countries: Guada lupe, Dominica, Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica...I intend to leave the U S from the port of New York City sailing on board Ponce on January 17t h, 1920." Height: 5' 10 1/2" | Eyes: Gray- green | Hair: dark brown
[S76] 1900 U.S. Census, Deepwater, Henry, Missouri.
[S75] 1910 U.S. Census, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri.
Eugene and his sister, Laurayne, are living at the home of their decea sed mother's brother, Edward Boyer. Their father is not listed.
[S624] U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012, (1914-2).
[S624] U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012, (1914).
[S624] U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012, (1917).
[S624] U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012, (1918).
[S319] New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, (Departed: 10 Jun 1920).
Departure date: 10 Jun 1920 Departure place: La Guaira (On Board A t Curacse) Arrival date: 18 Jun 1920 Arrival place: New York City
[S622] U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925, (Issued 17 Jun 1922, Passport # 193232).
"...I last left the US on July 1921...arriving at France on Jul y 1921...I have resided outside the US at the following places for th e following periods: South America - Feb 1920 to June 1920 | Franc e - Jul 1921 to date...I desire a passport for traveling to the follow ing countries: British Isles, Germany, Spain and Italy." (Amende d on May 29 for travel to Austria.)
[S98] Virgil Thomson: Composer on the Aisle, pg.100.
"He plays jazz on the piano nights (10 till 2) at Le Boeuf, w hich is the rendezvous of Jean Cocteau, Les Six, and les snobs intelle ctuals--a not unassuming place frequented by English upper-class, bohe mians, wealthy Americans, French aristocrats...He plays remarkably wel l and is the talk as well as the toast of Paris. He paints afternoon s and has recently had a sudden access of financial success.... I tak e my social life vicariously now…thru Eugene."
[S89] University of Texas at Austin, Islands of Order: A Decade of Collecting.
[S97] Détours.
[S91] Bulletin de L'Effort moderne, p.16.
[S212] Little Review Records, 1914-1964, Box 8, Folder 19 and Box 10, Folder 31.
[S73] 1930 U.S. Census, New York City, (Manhattan), NY.
[S319] New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, (Arrived: 04 Mar 1930).
Departed from La Havre, France on 26 Feb 1930
[S95] Newspaper - New York Times, A Round of Galleries - Eugene MacCown Invites His Titles (1930).
"As for titles," says Eugene MacCown, "I never though t of them"; and so the artist has asked his friends to baptize th e pictures for him. Each name becomes, therefore, at least a persona l criticism--at most, a personal response. Clive Bell, Jean Cocteau, N orman Douglas, André Gide--all have made their comments....
[S200] Peter Harrington (bookseller), "Paintings - Drawings - Gouaches" by Eugene MacCown (Catalogue 64, #182).
Oblong octavo. 10 leaves plus 4 plates (18 pictures total). Printed o n verge de Rives. At Eugene's request, each artwork was given a t itle by the following authors: Clive Bell, Jean Cocteau, Bernard Fay , André Gide, Norman Douglas, and Raymond Mortimer.
[S684] Newspapers.com - The Sedalia Democrat - 14 May 1930, 14 May 1930.
[S319] New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, (Arrived: 27 Nov 1933).
[S93] Archives of American Art, Andrew Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson papers (Box 3, Folder 37).
November 20
Hotel Chelsea
West 23rd St.
Dear Andrew,
The application for the Guggenheim Fellowship had to be in by Nov. 1s t and since I didn’t have your permission I didn’t user\ your name. Ju st how much of politics enter into their award I don’t know but if yo u are aware of any secret button to be pulled, any private manipulatio n on your part would be vastly appreciated.
To get a fellowship would be important, for I am in a really distressi ng situation – To a point that I am likely at any day to be put out o f my hotel with paintings, paraphernalia, and baggage seized.
If you are able to put me in the way of selling a picture or somehow m aking me money, it would be a godsend. My best to Ken Adams if you se e him, also to Jack Beckett.
Sincerely,
Eugene MacCown
[S93] Archives of American Art, Federal Art Project, Photographic Division (Box: 15, Folder: 35, Reel: 1168).
[S95] Newspaper - New York Times, Works of Federal Art Project Painters at Unit's Gallery Have Varied Interest (1937).
...exhibition at the Federal Art Project Gallery, 7 East Thirty-Eight h Street, may be seen through March 23 the third exhibition of work b y artists of the WPA easel painting department...Each of the artists i n the WPA show is represented by one canvas.
[S95] Newspaper - New York Times, Whitney Museum to Open its Annual Show (1938).
Paintings by more than 100 artists, representing sixteen States, wil l be on show next Wednesday when the 1938 Annual Exhibition of Contemp orary American Art is opened to the public at the Whitney Museum of Am erican Art, 10 West Eighth Street.
This year's exhibition, like those in the past, has been assembled thr ough the non-jury method...The museum picked the 109 artists who wer e invited to the show, but left to each the choice of what work he wis hed to represent him. Each artist contributed one painting...
[S209] 1940 Manhattan NY Phone Directory, p.629.
[S94] Siege of Innocence: A Romantic Comedy Of Paris & Venice in the Twentie s.
[S11] A Sacred Quest: The Life and Writings of Mary Butts, "Interviews with Virgil Thompson, Eugene MacCown, Quentin Bell, and Hugh Ross Williamson" ( pp34-41).
The interview was conducted in New York City in the fall of 1964. Th e document trail of Eugene McCown goes cold after that.
[S211] New York City volumes of Death Notices, Death Certificate #: 9170.
MacCown, Eugene Age 67 Died April 23, 1966 in the Borough of Manhatt an Death Certificate #: 9170
[S92] Horizon Chasers: The lives and adventures of Richard Halliburton and P aul Mooney, Notes for Chapter 4 (pg 253, #7).

Photos » Slide Show		Portrait: William Eugene McCown by Man Ray
		"Les deux nus a cheval" by Eugene McCown
		McCown, William Eugene - "Si Jeunesse Savait" Original painting is in the Detroit Institute of Arts
		Painting by Eugene McCown from the periodical "The Little Review"
		Painting by Eugene McCown from the periodical "The Little Review"
		Painting by Eugene McCown from the periodical "The Little Review"
		McCown, William Eugene - "Les deux nues au lapin"
		Portrait of unknown woman by Eugene McCown
		"Les deux nus a cheval" by Eugene McCown
		McCown, William Eugene - "L'espagnole"
		Portrait of Nancy Cunard by Eugene McCown

Documents » Slide Show		1940 Manhattan NY Phone Book
		Poster - W.P.A Federal Art Project Exhibition (1937)
		Frontispiece by Eugene MacCown for René Crevel's "Détours"
		1. Letter to Jane Kemp
		2. Letter to Jane Kemp (1 of 2)
		2a. Letter to Jane Kemp (2 of 2)
		3. Letter to Jane Kemp (1 of 2)
		3a. Letter to Jane Kemp (2 of 2)
		4. Letter to Jane Kemp (1 of 2)
		4a. Letter to Jane Kemp (2 of 2)
		Book: Siege of Innocence
		Envelope from letter to Andrew Dasburg
		Portfolio: "Paintings - Drawings - Gouaches" by Eugene MacCown
		Letter to Andrew Dasburg (pg.1)
		Letter to Andrew Dasburg (pg.2)
		McCown, William Eugene - Central High School Yearbook Kansas City, Missouri 1914
		McCown, William Eugene - University of Missouri Yearbook Columbia, Missouri 1918
		McCown, William Eugene - WWII Draft Registration Card