Parents David Mannes and Clara Damrosch, were founders of The David Mannes Music School in 1916, now The Mannes College of Music.
Three marriages: to set designer Jo Mielziner, to Richard A. Blow (an artist), and to Christopher Clarkson (a representative of British companies)ended in divorce.
Wrote for The New Yorker and for other publications ranging from McCalls to The New York Times.