author
Delia Austrian
1874–1928
Best known as a journalist with a strong interest in theater and culture, this early 20th-century writer moved between reporting, criticism, and literary work. Her name still lives on in American theater through an award originally created in her honor.
1 Audiobook
Ways of War and Peace
by Delia Austrian
About the author
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, Delia Austrian was an American journalist and writer who later became closely associated with Chicago and New York literary and theater circles. Reliable sources identify her as a journalist, and archival material at the University of Chicago shows that her papers include manuscripts for novels, stories, plays, and articles, suggesting a wide-ranging writing life.
She is especially remembered for her connection to the theater world. Her legacy continued after her death in 1928 through the Delia Austrian Medal, established by the Drama League of New York and later known as the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.
Austrian also left a lasting mark through her bequest to the University of Chicago, which helped form a study collection focused on drama and theater arts. That combination of journalism, literary ambition, and deep engagement with the stage gives her work and reputation an enduring cultural interest.