splash  Louise Brooks was born on Wednesday, November 14, 1906 and died on Thursday, August 8, 1985, at the age of 78. All together, her life ran over the course of some 28,758 days. Like any life, it was marked by highs and lows, by success and disappointment.

“An online tribute site, the Louise Brooks Society, contains an extraordinary day-by-day chronology of her life.” — Irish Times

Despite having been a celebrity and living part of her life in public, little is known, relatively speaking, about what Brooks was doing on any given day. From the mass of material the Louise Brooks Society has gathered, Brooks’ activities can be traced more than a thousand times during her lifetime. Best documented is the 18 year period – running from 1922 through 1940, a period of 6939 days – when Brooks worked as a dancer and actress and many of her activities were a matter of public record.

The Louise Brooks Society has compiled a day-by-day chronology of Brooks’ life. This timeline serves as a record of Brooks’ life both in and out of the spotlight, including her comings-and-goings and activities as a dancer, actress and writer. Its entries are both significant and mundane, and are based on multiple sources including information found in the Barry Paris biography, as well as those recorded by Brooks in her journals and notebooks; other dates were gathered from various magazines and newspapers (especially those located where Brooks was resident), along with other disparate sources, such as census records, passenger manifests, and the memoirs of friends and colleagues.

Dates given are exact, while dates given in italics are approximate within a few days. Denishawn performances are understood to be evening events, unless otherwise noted. The mention of Brooks in a syndicated column are dated according to the clipping found, though such columns could and did run in different newspapers on different dates sometimes as much as a week apart..

Aligned left are those happenings and events with which Brooks was directly involved, or which she would most likely have known.

Aligned right are happenings and events in which Brooks did not participate, but in some way significantly impacted her life, career, or reputation.

The length of this still growing chronology made it necessary to split it in two. This page represents PART 1 of the chronology, covering the years 1906 through 1939 — the years 1940 through 1985 may be found in PART 2. (The years following Brooks’ passing are covered in PART 3.) This chronology, the product of considerable research, is © Thomas Gladysz / Louise Brooks Society. It is a work in progress, with confirmed dates added on an ongoing basis. Have something to add? Please CONTACT the Louise Brooks Society. (This page was last updated in December 2023)

November 14, 1906
Born Mary Louise Brooks to parents Leonard and Myra Brooks in the town of Cherryvale, Kansas. A small article announcing the birth appears in the two local newspapers; the Cherryvale Daily Republican writes “A brand new baby girl is the attraction just now at the home of City Attorney L.P. Brooks. The daughter came this morning and Mr. Brooks thinks that he will be able to ‘revise’ more ordinances tonight than at any previous sessions”, while on its front page, the Cherryvale Daily News noted, “Attorney L. P. Brooks is stepping around today like a blind horse in a clover patch all on account of a young lady who came to his home this morning where she will reside in the future. All concerned are doing nicely.”

July 3, 1907
Brooks family returns to Cherryvale after an extended visit to Burden, where they visited family.

August 12, 1907
L.P. Brooks purchases a new home for $2,200 in Cherryvale; the warranty deed is signed the following day.

August 31, 1907
Brooks’ family moves into their new home at 320 West Main Street.

September 2, 1907
L.P. Brooks moves into new law offices above the Cherryvale People’s Bank.

August 18, 1908
Brooks family returns to Cherryvale after a few days visit in Humboldt, Kansas.

September 11-25, 1908
Brooks family goes to Burden to visit family.

December 26-29, 1908
Brooks family spends a few days visiting family in Burden.

June 18, 1910
The Brooks’ family cat is gravely injured when its foot is cut off after being struck by the Cherryvale Interurban streetcar.

September 2, 1910
Performs in “Tom Thumb Wedding” at the Cherryvale Christian church. Brooks played the bride, opposite Loren McCrum, who played the groom. Admission is 15 and 25 cents. The following day, a newspaper article states there was “good attendance,” and that the “program pleased the audience, and netted the sum of $300 for the church.”

April 30, 1912
Cherryvale Journal notes that Brooks and others partook in a special birthday party for brother Martin.

August 27, 1912
Along with brother Martin, attends birthday party of a child in Independence, Kansas.

March 22, 1913
Along with brother Martin, attends birthday party of a neighborhood child celebrating his fourth birthday.

April 28, 1913
Attends birthday party of a neighborhood child celebrating her seventh birthday.

July 8, 1913
Martin and Louise accompany their grandfather to Cambridge, Kansas to spend the week.

Febuary 25, 1914
Helps serve refreshments at party of a neighbor, who entertained the Good Fellowship class of the M.E. church.

July 22, 1914
Martin, Louise and Theodore attend birthday party of a neighborhood child celebrating his second birthday.

August 22, 1914
Sister June is born in Cherryvale.

January 12, 1915
Mourns the loss of a pair of goldfish.

August 6, 1915
As one of Bertha Nusbaum’s piano students, performs “Little Fairy Waltz Op. 105, No. 1” by Ludovic Streabbog at the home of a neighbor.

November 25-26, 1915
Spends the Thanksgiving holiday with brother Martin at the home of their grandmother in Winfield, Kansas.

April 30, 1916
Attends birthday party of a neighborhood child celebrating her tenth birthday; also in attendance is Vivian Jones (the future Vivian Vance), visiting from Independence.

June 2, 1916
Is a pupil of Miss Minerva Warner’s sewing class, and is named secretary of its West side sewing club. (Myra Brooks is named secretary of its East side sewing club.)

July 14, 1916
With Martin, attends birthday party of a neighborhood child celebrating her sixth birthday. According to the local paper, “The party took their suppers and spent the evening on the creek.”

August 24, 1916
Spends the week visiting a friend in Humboldt, Kansas.