Alice Genevieve McManus, was born July 22, 1882 in Virginia City, Nevada (some records give Alice's birthdate as 1884, but based on the 1900 census and her 1902 marriage record, 1882 or 1883 appear to be more accurate) to Catherine Hayes McManus and Andrew McManus. By 1896, Alice was already publicly recognized for her beauty and poise: Nevada newspapers from the time record her election by a poll of students as a “Venus.” By 1902, Alice was 19 years old and living in Butte, Montana where she worked as a telephone operator. In that year, she eloped in Butte with divorcé and fellow Virginia City native Marco J. Medin. Marco was a successful merchant in Butte and Alice quickly became a popular figure in Butte social life, as evidence by the frequent mentions of her and her clothing in Butte-area newspapers. After a November 1906 divorce from Marco, Alice and William Andrews Clark, Jr. were married May 1907 in Butte at the home of one of Alice's good friend, Grace McStay Carnochan. The Clarks moved to Los Angeles in 1908, and in 1910, purchased of what was then called the McCan estate at 2205 West Adams Boulevard - the same parcel the Clark Library occupies today. In addition to becoming socially active in Los Angeles, Alice also became involved in charity work in the city, especially at the YWCA, and throughout World War I, she was deeply involved in Red Cross fundraising and other efforts related to child refugees. Alice McManus Clark died November 17, 1918, at the age of 34, after being diagnosed with colon cancer 8 months earlier.

A family tree of the descendants of Andrew McManus and Catherine Hayes McManus compiled during the description of this collection is located in Box 43/Folder 6.