Cora Gladish

Sarah Cora Gladish, well-known for her musical as well as artistic pursuits, was born in Higginsville, Missouri, in 1867. She attended the South Missouri State Normal School in Springfield and graduated in 1889, later teaching at Jennings School in the 1890s.

After moving in with her uncle in the 1920s, Gladish began to write music and lyrics, many of which were published as sheet music throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. Her music was often classified as “patriotic” in style and theme and, after publication, carried international copyrights across forty countries. Further establishing her successful music-writing career, a 1935 article in The Warrensburg (Mo.) Standard-Herald newspaper notes that a KMBC radio “courtesy program” was to be dedicated to her in celebration of her musical contributions.

Before becoming known for her talents in music and poetry, Gladish was also known to draw and paint, sometimes exhibiting her art locally in county fairs and shops. Often working in ink and watercolor, Gladish’s pieces appear to have depicted small scenery, floral motifs, and romantic “Gibson Girl” style imagery. 

After a dedicated lifelong career of teaching and music, Gladish died in January 1951. Her will stated that her home in Odessa, Missouri, would be left to her niece and a good friend who would act as trustees, ensuring it would be used as a rent-free living space for struggling female artists and musicians, for however long they needed it. Gladish’s niece also used funds entrusted to her by her aunt to establish a memorial scholarship in Gladish’s name that would be awarded to deserving art and music students within Lafayette, Jackson and Johnson Counties annually.