Cline's Daughter: Mary Louise Cline

Self-portrait, 1941*

Cline and his wife had two children.  The first-born, a daughter, was named Mary Louise Cline, after her mother (who was known familiarly by her second name Louise).  Their daughter was always known by both names, "Mary Louise." She was born in Manistee, Michigan, on 6 September 1914.  She grew up in Detroit until around 1922, when the family moved to Baltimore.  She studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and became an artist.  Over the years she exhibited her paintings and drawings at area shows. In 1940 she married J. Henry Jarrett (1906-1978); they had one son and one daughter. She died at her home in Alexandria, Virginia, on 11 August 1995 at the age of 80. 

Mary Louise was very close with her father, who wrote a poem dedicated to her in February 1920 entitled "Gemini: Pollux." The second part of this poem appeared in a newspaper as "For My Daughter" (see it at right; click on the image to make it larger). It prophetically pictures Mary Louise remembering her father after his death.

The inspiration for Cline's short story about a young girl called "Mekku" (in The Midland, February 1927) is easily discerned by anyone who knew his daughter.  In December 1927 Cline asked Mary Louise, then age thirteen, to be one of his literary executors. She and her mother arranged for the posthumous publication of a volume Cline's poems, After-Walker (1930), which also includes the poem "For My Daughter."

I knew Mary Louise for the last six years of her life. None of my work on her father would have been possible without her friendship and generous cooperation.

Mary Louise, around 1990

* Used by permission of the Estate of Mary Louise Jarrett.