Olive Cowell

Olive Thompson Cowell (1887–1984) was a patron of the arts and music, and a professor of International Relations. Career Cowell graduated from Barnard College in 1910. She taught in high schools for several years before becoming professor at San Francisco State University. She went on to found the International Relations department as part of the Government program at San Francisco State University in 1927, the first International Relations department in the USA. She taught at the university until 1956. Life Cowell is the step-mother of pianist and composer Henry Cowell. Henry was born when the family lived in Menlo Park. Olive schooled Henry at home. She was the third wife of Henry Clayton Blackwood Cowell, known as Harry Cowell, and they were married from 1866 to 1954. Cowell was a member of the Temple of the People, an offshoot of the Theosophical Society. Henry Cowell was also influenced by Theosophy. As a teen he met the Irish Theosophist poet John Varian, and set some of his poetry to music.