Deren, Maya (1917-1961)

LC: (Elenora Derenkowsky; b. 1917 in Kiev, Ukraine; came to U.S. with parents, 1922; married & divorced Gregory Bardacke; B.A., New York Univ., 1936; M.A. in Eng. lit., Smith College, 1939; married Alexander Hammid; changed name from Elenora to Maya, Hindu word for illusion, ca. 1943; d. 1961; poet, photographer, writer, ethnographer, filmmaker, impresario; regarded as founder of post-war Amer. indep. cinema)