Alice Cushing Donaldson Riley was an American an author of children's poetry, stories, books, songs, and several one-act plays. Her best known work was "Slumber Boat", a children’s lullaby co-written with her dear friend Dorothy "Jessie" L. Gaynor.[citation needed] She is responsible for establishing clubs, including The Riley Circle, which led to the Drama Club of Evanston, inspired the Drama League of America, was a charter club member of the Garden Club of Evanston, and initiated the Evanston Arts Center
