Biography:

Catherine Littlefield (1908-1951) was a ballerina and choreographer who founded the Littlefield Ballet in 1935, which was later renamed the Philadelphia Ballet Company.  Littlefield's company was the first American ballet company to tour Europe.  Littlefield was born and spent her life in Philadelphia.  Her first husband was Philip Ludwell Leidy; she later married Sterling Noel.  Littlefield died of liver cancer at the age of 47 in 1951.