He was born in Chicago on May 13, 1890 into an artistic family. Like his father, George Ellis Dawson, Mitchell became a lawyer after studying at the University of Chicago Law School in 1913. He practiced law with his father’s firm until his retirement in 1954.
Bachelor of Philisophy, University of Chicago, 1911, Juris Doctor, 1913.
He supported and contributed to the Chicago Literary Renaissance. Dawson then turned his focus to legal writing, contributing legal advice column called “Advice of Counsel” to the Saturday Evening Post, Esquire and The New Yorker. Dawson’s column was popular due to its simplicity and his use of humor.
He was also the brother-in-law of writer Emily “Mickey” Hahn whose career began in part due to Dawson sending some of her letters from abroad to the New Yorker magazine. In 1921, Mitchell married Rose Hahn and had three children: Hilary (later Schlessiger), Jill (later Metzger), and Gregory. He died in 1956 of Parkinson’s Disease.
Served with Ambulance Service, United States Army, July 1917-March 1918. Member Executive Committee Cook County Consumers Council, 1933-1935. Member Adult Education Council of Chicago (directory).
Member Chicago Bar Association (public relations counsel, chairman public relations committee 1934-1937), Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association (chairman public relations committee of section on bar organization activities 1936-1938. Member commission on economics condition of the bar 1937-1939), International Bar Association, Chicago Law Institute. Club: City (director.
Married Rose Hahn, March 8, 1921. Children: Hilary, Jill, Gregory.
