Ann E. Todd


Ann E. Todd was an American child actress. As an adult, she became a music reference librarian at University of California, Berkeley.

Early years

Todd was born in 1931 in Denver, Colorado, to Burrill L. and Alberta C. Phillips. She had a younger brother, Stephen. She was a distant relative of Mary Todd Lincoln. Due to the privations of the Great Depression, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ulysses Mayfield, her adoptive name was Ann Todd Mayfield.
In 1942, Todd was hospitalized in critical condition when blood poisoning developed after she cut her foot playing a game in her backyard.

Film career

Todd made her acting debut in Zaza directed by George Cukor. In a career spanning over 14 years, she appeared in almost 40 movies alongside such stars as Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Temple, James Stewart, John Garfield, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and Marlene Dietrich.
Due to the similarities between her name and the then already established British actress Ann Todd, she added the initial "E." to her name. Todd was a regular in The Stu Erwin Show between 1950–53 before quitting show business for good. She became a teacher and librarian in her later life before retiring in California.

Librarian and academic career

After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles she attended the University of California, Berkeley where she obtained a master's degree in library science in 1958 and a Master of Arts in 1960. She was a reference librarian at U.C. Berkeley from 1960–61 and 1970–90. Among her accomplishments was founding and editing Cum Notis Variorum, the library's newsletter which gained a substantial reputation. Additionally Basart wrote reviews for the Music Library Association publication Notes as well as serving as its music review editor and book review editor.
She taught at the San Francisco College for Women and at the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1984, Basart established Fallen Leaf Press, publishing reference books in music as well as scores of contemporary American chamber music. Basart closed the business in 2000.
In 1993, she was recognized by the Music Library Association with its Citation, the Association's tribute for lifetime achievement.

Filmography