1913 - September 19, born to Ernest and Lillian Farmer in Seattle, WA. Siblings include Edith, Wesley and half-sister Rita.

1931 - Wins creative writing contest with her controversial essay, God Dies while a junior at West Seattle High School.  National wire services report the story as - "Seattle girl denies God and wins prize."

Enters University of Washington, joins drama department and meets instructor Sophie Rosenstein.  Achieves rave reviews while acting in Helen of Troy and Alien Corn.  Changes major from journalism to drama.

1935 - Sails for Russia after winning Voice of Action newspaper subscription contest.  Wire services (again) pick up story and denounce Communism.

Frances stays in New York after trip and is discovered by a talent scout.  Signs contract with Paramount.

1936 - Marries actor Leif Erickson, makes first film Too Many Parents.  Later Frances is cast opposite Bing Crosby in Rhythm on the Range and Edward Arnold in Come and Get It and gets described as the "screen's outstanding find of 1936." 

1937 - Plays the lead in the Group Theatre production of Golden Boy written by Clifford Odets.

1942 - Arrested for drunk driving without a license and failure to obey dim-out zone restrictions.  Sentenced to 180 days, receives probation.

The "most popular" picture of Frances Farmer

1943 - Arrested for violating probation and assault.  Sanity hearing finds Frances mentally ill and recommends her to be placed in a sanitarium.  Mother is appointed legal guardian. Committed to Western Washington State Hospital at Steilacoom, then released.

1945 - Mother recommits Frances to state asylum.

1950 - Frances released after undergoing shock treatment, hydrotherapy baths and supposedly receiving a trans-orbital lobotomy.  Back to Seattle to take care of parents.

1954 - Frances marries Alfred Lobley

1957 - Frances re-discovered working as a hotel clerk in San Francisco. See picture here. Image courtesy of George Snow

Appears in The Chalk Garden at Bucks County Playhouse and makes television appearances including the Ed Sullivan Show.

1958 - Appears on This Is Your Life hosted by Ralph Edwards and makes her final film, The Party Crashers. Marries Lee Mikesell. Appears in the television drama Tongues of Angels with James MacArthur. Image courtesy of Janice Carpenter collection

Hosts afternoon television show, Frances Farmer Presents in Indianapolis until 1964.

1968 - Begins work on autobiography with the assistance of Lois Kibbee.

1970 - August 1, dies at age 56 from cancer of the esophagus.