| Dates: | 1894-1945 |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 4 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.ctc-tpc |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | This collection contains materials brought together from various sources. |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Theater Portrait and Clipping Files, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding aid author: | Original author unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2021 |
Abstract
The Theater Portrait and Clipping Files collection consists of portraits and clippings relating to actors, actresses, dancers, singers and vaudeville performers who performed on Chicago stages as well as in New York, London and smaller venues across the United States and Europe. Included are portraits, in the form of either professional photographs or clippings from programs, as well as obituaries and other clippings.
Biographical/Historical
Many of the portraits in the collection were taken by professional photographers and appear to be forms of headshots for advertising, or may have served as an actor’s resume. The collection span covers the time period after traditional carte de visite, visiting cards, were popularized in the mid-1800s. These playing card sized photos were passed out to friends and family. By the early 1900s, slightly larger cabinet cards became popular, and were often used by advertising companies to promote well-known actors.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of portraits and clippings relating to actors, actresses, dancers, singers and vaudeville performers who performed on Chicago stages as well as in New York, London and smaller venues across the United States and Europe. Most files contain portraits in the form of either professional photographs or clippings from programs, while some contain obituaries or other clippings with biographical information taken from newspapers. When files contain materials other than these, the materials are noted next to the performer's name in the Collection Inventory. Dates are provided when available. Numerous unidentified images can be found in one file at the beginning of Box 1 and include professional photographs of actors, actresses and vaudeville performers of various kinds, as well as portrait clippings from programs.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically by performer’s last name or group name, if applicable.
Subject Headings
- Theater—Illinois—Chicago—20th century—Sources
- Theater—New York (State)—New York—20th century—Sources
- Theater—England—London—History—20th century—Sources
- Vaudeville—20th century—Sources
- Entertainers—20ths century—Portraits
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Theater programs
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Unidentified Images |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Adams, Maud, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Allen, Viola, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Anderson, Mary, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Anglin, Margaret, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Arthur, Julia, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Barriscale, Bessie [autographed], undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Barrymore, Georgie Drew, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Barrymore, John, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Barrymore, Maurice, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Bates, Blanche, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Beaudet, Louise, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Bell, Digby, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Bellew, Kyrle, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Bennet, A. Milo, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Booth, Edwin, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Braham, David, 1905 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Burke, Billie, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Burkhart, Lillian, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Burroughs, Marie, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Burt, Laura, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Busby, Amy, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Busley, Jessie, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Calve, Emma, 1931 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Cameron, Beatrice, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Carlyle, Frank, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Carmencita, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Carrington, Mary, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Carter, Mrs. Leslie, 1934, 1935, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Cayvan, Georgia, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Chevalier, Albert, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | Clark, Marguerite, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | Claxton, Kate, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | Coe, Isabelle, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | Coghlan, Gertrude, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | Coghlan, Rose, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | Collier, William, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 38 | Conquest, Ida, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 39 | Corrine, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 40 | Craig, Ollie (of the Heavenly Twins) [autographed], 1896 |
| Box 1 | Folder 41 | Crane, William H., undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 42 | Crawley, Constance, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 43 | D’Arcy, Belle, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 44 | D’arville Crelin, Camille, 1932, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 45 | D’orsay, Lawrence [autographed], 1901 |
| Box 1 | Folder 46 | Daly, Arnold, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 47 | Daniels, Frank, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 48 | Davis, Jessie Bartlett, 1894, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 49 | DeAngelis, Jefferson, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 50 | Deaves, Ada, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 51 | DeKoven, Reginald, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 52 | Delamotta, Miro, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 53 | DeNavarro, Mrs. Antonio, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 54 | Dixey, Henry, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 55 | Dodson, J. E., undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 56 | Drew, John, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 57 | Drew, Mrs. John (Louise Lane), undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 58 | Drouet, Robert, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 59 | Dupree, Minnie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Edeson, Robert, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Elliott, Maxine, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Emmet, J. K., undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Farnum, Dustin, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Faversham, William, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Fealy, Maude, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Ferguson, Elsie [autographed], undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Finney, Jameson Lee, 1911 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Fisher, Sallie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Fiske, Minnie Maddern, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Florence, Katherine (Mrs. Fritz Williams), undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | Fox, Della, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Foy, Edwin, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Frederick, Pauline, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 15 | Friganza, Trixie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 16 | George, Grace, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 17 | Gilbert, Mrs. George H., undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 18 | Gillette, William, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 19 | Girardot, Etienne, 1939 |
| Box 2 | Folder 20 | Gish, Dorothy [autographed], undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 21 | Glover, Lyman, 1903 |
| Box 2 | Folder 22 | Golden, Grace, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 23 | Goodwin, Nat C., undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 24 | Gottschalk, Ferdinand, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 25 | Greene, Gene, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 26 | Greet, Ben, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 27 | Hall, Josephine, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 28 | Hall, Pauline, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 29 | Hawtrey, Sir Charles, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 30 | Held, Anna, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 31 | Herne, James A., 1900 |
| Box 2 | Folder 32 | Herrmann, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 33 | Hermann, Adelaide, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 34 | Hickman, Howard [autographed], undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 35 | Hilliard, Robert [autographed], undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 36 | Hoffman, Maud, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 37 | Holland, E. M., undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 38 | Holland, Mildred, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 39 | Holt, Jack [autographed], undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 40 | Hopper, DeWolf, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 41 | “Indian Follies,” undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 42 | Irving, Henry, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 43 | Irwin, May, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 44 | Jackson Sisters, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 45 | Jaeger, Miss Berthe and Mr. Franz Ebert, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 46 | James, Louis, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 47 | Jansen, Marie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 48 | Jarbeau, Verona, 1914 |
| Box 2 | Folder 49 | Jefferson, Joseph, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 50 | Johnson, Esther, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 51 | Joy Sisters, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 52 | Kane, Leonard (“The Dancing Adonis”), undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 53 | Keeler, Carrie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 54 | Kelcey, Herbert, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 55 | Kelly, John, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 56 | King, Esther, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 57 | Knapp, Beatrice, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 58 | Kronold, Selma, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 59 | La Costa Serenaders, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 60 | Lacey, Harry, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 61 | Lamey, Jack and Violet Pearson, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 62 | Langtry, Lily, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 63 | Larrimore, Francine [autographed], 1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 64 | LaShay, George, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 65 | Laub, Leonie, 1931 |
| Box 2 | Folder 66 | Laughlin, Anna, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 67 | Leach, Ruth, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 68 | LeMoyne, W. J., undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 69 | Lennon, Herbert, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 70 | Lennox, Marvel, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 71 | Leonard, Muriel, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 72 | Lewis, Fred, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 73 | Lewis, Jeffreys (fem.), undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 74 | Linck, Mary, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 75 | Little Eagle and Wolf, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 76 | Loftus, Cissie (Cecelia), undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 77 | Lorenz, the Juggler, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 78 | Lotz “The Novelty Entertainer,” undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 79 | Lyford, Nettie, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 80 | Lynn, Gracie, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Mlle. Roberta’s Animals, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Mannering, Mary, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Mansfield, Richard, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Marlowe, Julia, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Martinot, Sadie, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Massman, Beth, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Mather, Margaret, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | Millard, Laura, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | Millard, Mildred, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | Mitchell, Julian, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | Modjeska, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | Montague, Miss, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 13 | Montford Trio, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 14 | Mor, Eva, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 15 | Morgan, D. Eloise, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 16 | Morris, Clara, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 17 | Mortimer, Lillian, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 18 | Mulle, Ida, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 19 | Murphy, Tim, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 20 | Musical LaVonnias, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 21 | Musical Munro, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 22 | Nazimova, Alla, 1945 |
| Box 3 | Folder 23 | Neff, John, “The Brainstorm Comedian,” undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 24 | Nethersole, Olga, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 25 | Noel and Wolf, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 26 | Norman, Peggy, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 27 | Norman, Ruth, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 28 | O’Neill, James, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 29 | “One Thousand Pounds of Harmony” Quartet, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 30 | Orland, Lee and Bea, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 31 | Orth, Hilda, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 32 | Orth, Mary, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 33 | Owens, John, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 34 | Papinta, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 35 | Parillo and Betty, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 36 | Parker, Muriel, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 37 | Patti, Adelina, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 38 | Perry, Irene, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 39 | “Ploner’s Peerless Quintette,” 1925 |
| Box 3 | Folder 40 | Potter, Alice, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 41 | Potter, Cora Urquhart (Mrs. James Brown), undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 42 | Powers, Harry, 1945 |
| Box 3 | Folder 43 | Quinlan, Gertrude, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 44 | Rankin, Arthur McKee, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 45 | Reed, Roland, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 46 | Reese and McGovern, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 47 | Rehan, Ada, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 48 | Rigl, Emily, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 49 | Risley, Greta, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 50 | “Riverside Three,” undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 51 | Roberts, Reginald, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 52 | Robson, Eleanor, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 53 | Robson, May, 1942 |
| Box 3 | Folder 54 | Robson, Stuart, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 55 | Rogers, Gus (Rogers Brothers), undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 56 | Rogers, Max (Rogers Brothers), undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 57 | Ross and Louise, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 58 | Ruloff, Louise and Shura Rulowa, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 59 | Rush, Isadore (fem.), undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 60 | Russell, Annie, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 61 | Russell, Lillian, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 62 | Russell, Sol Smith, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 63 | Russell, Tommy, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 64 | Ruth and Weld, Dancers, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 65 | Rutherford, Richard J., undated (also includes birth certificate, 1908, and family history information) |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | St. Charles, clown, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Salvini, Alexander, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Scott and Garner, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Scott, Cyril, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Seabrook, Thomas Q., 1913 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Seabury, Ralph, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Shannon, Effie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Silent Mora, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Simmons, Evelyn, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | Simonds, Jack, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Singing Guitar Aces, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | Skinner, Otis, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 13 | Sothern, Edward H., undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 14 | Spraker, Lewis, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 15 | Starr, Frances, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 16 | Stewart, Gale, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 17 | Stewart, William G., undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 18 | Stoddard, John L., undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 19 | Sykes, Jerome, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 20 | Talchinova Revue, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 21 | Taliaferro, Mabel, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 22 | Tanner, Maude, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 23 | Tarkal, Ada, dancer, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 24 | Tempest, Marie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 25 | Templeton, Fay, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 26 | Tennant, Dorothy, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 27 | Thompson, Denman (souvenir booklet), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 28 | “Three Austrian Troubadors,” undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 29 | “Three Bennett Sisters,” undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 30 | “Three Jolliteers,” undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 31 | Toy, Ning, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 32 | Tree, Herbert Beerbohm, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 33 | Trifoli Trio, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 34 | Trowbridge, Fawn, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 35 | Truedell and Nelson, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 36 | Twentieth-century Trio, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 37 | The Two Graces (Grace Lynn), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 38 | Tyree, Bessie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 39 | Uart, Kate, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 40 | Underwood, Velina [autographed], undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 41 | Unger, Fannie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 42 | Valen, Tria [?], undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 43 | Valin, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 44 | Vardo and Lou, 1924 |
| Box 4 | Folder 45 | Veut, Ullrich, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 46 | Vontello and Nina, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 47 | Wachsner, Leon, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 48 | Wachta, Elaine, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 49 | Wainright, Marie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 50 | Wallis, Gladys, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 51 | Walsh, Blanche, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 52 | Walter, Eugene, 1941 |
| Box 4 | Folder 53 | Weigham, Frank, ventriloquist, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 54 | West, Dolly, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 55 | Weston, Frank, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 56 | Wheeler, Berenice, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 57 | White, Buddy (fem.), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 58 | Whitney, Florence, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 59 | Willard, E.S., undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 60 | Williams, Hattie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 61 | Wilson, Francis, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 62 | Wilson, Grace, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 63 | Wyndham, Olive, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 64 | Wynn, Bessie, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 65 | Yohe, May, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 66 | Yunkskenicz, Ilonka, undated |
