List of American women in 19th century theater
A
- Emma Abbott - (December 9, 1850 - January 5, 1891) Born in Chicago, Illinois.
- Hamnet Records:
- ART File A131 no.1 PHOTO (size XS) - Emma Abbott as Mora
- ART File A131 no.2 PHOTO (size XS) - Photograph of Singer Emma Abbott
- ART File Vol. b2 no. 108 PHOTO (size M) - Photo of Emma Abbott c. 1870-1891
- Internet Archive
- Notable American Women Vol. 2
- Hamnet Records:
- Bessie Abott (1878 - February 9, 1919) Born Bessie Pickens in Heuvelton, New York.
- Florence Adelaide Fowle Adams (October 15, 1863 - July 31, 1916) Born Florence Adelaide Fowle in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
- Maude Adams (November 11, 1872 - July 17, 1953) Born Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Viola Allen (October 27, 1867 - May 9, 1948) Born Viola Emily Allen in Huntsville, Alabama.
- Mary Anderson (July 28, 1859 - May 29, 1940) Born Mary Antoinette Anderson in Sacramento, California.
B
- Isabel Bateman (December 28, 1854 - 1934) Born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Kate Josephine Bateman Crowe (October 7, 1842 - April 8, 1917) Born Kate Josephine Bateman in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Sidney Frances Bateman (March 29, 1823 - January 13, 1881) Born Sidney Frances Cowell in England.
- Virginia Frances Bateman (January 1, 1853 - May 4, 1940) Born in New York, she was also known as Mrs. Edward Compton and Virginia Mackenzie.
- Blanche Bates (August 25, 1873 - December 25, 1941) Born in Portland, Oregon.
- Kitty Blanchard (1847 - December 14, 1911) Born Elizabeth Blanchard from Pennsylvania.
- Lillian Blauvelt (1873 - 1947) Born in New York City.
- Agnes Booth (October 4, 1843 - January 2, 1910) Born Marian Agnes Land Rookes in Sydney, New South Wales.
- Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter (May 15, 1857 - February 12, 1936) Born Mary Cora Urquhart in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Marie Burroughs (1866 - March 4, 1926) Born Lillie Arrington in San Jose, California.
C
- Marie Cahill (December 29, 1866 - August 23, 1933) Born Mary "Marie" Cahill in Brooklyn, New York.
- Beatrice Cameron (1868 - July 12, 1940) Born Susan Hegeman in Troy, New York.
- Leslie Carter (June 10, 1857 - November 13, 1937) Born Caroline Louise Dudley in Lexington, Kentucky.
- Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 - June 18, 1956) Born Mary Louise Stieger in Davenport, Iowa.
- Georgia Cayvan (August 22, 1857 - November 19, 1906) Born Georgie Eva Cayvan in Bath, Maine.
- Henrietta Baker Chanfrau (1837 - 1909) Born Jeannette Davis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Caroline Chapman (c. 1818 - May 8, 1876) Born in San Francisco, California.
- Ada Clare (July, 1834 - March 4, 1874) Born Ada Agnes Jane McElhenney in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Hamnet Record for Ada Clare
- Marguerite Clark (February 22, 1883 - September 25, 1940) Born Helen Marguerite Clark in Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Hamnet Record for Marguerite Clark
- Kate Claxton (August 24, 1848 - May 5, 1924) Born in Somerville, New Jersey.
- Hamnet Record for Kate Claxton
- Viola Katherine Clemmons (November 17, 1874 - December 24, 1930) Born in Scotts County, Illinois and used the stage name Katherine Dayan.
- Josephine Clifton (1813? - 1847) Possibly born in New York or Philadelphia and possible surname Miller.
- Ella Maria Dietz Clymer (January 27, 1847 - January 9, 1920) Born Ella Maria Dietz in New York City.
- Laura Sedgwick Collins (1859 - 1927) Born Laura Sedgwick in Poughkeepsie, New York.
- Nanette Comstock (July 17, 1866 - June 22, 1942) Born in Albany, New York.
- Ida Conquest (February 26, 1876 - July 12, 1937)
- Sarah Crocker Conway (1834 - April 28, 1875) Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
- Ethyle Cooke (August 4, 1885 - April 20, 1949) Born in Lynn, Massachusetts.
- Mabelle Gilman Corey (December 4, 1874 - November 14, 1960) Born Mabelle Gillman in San Francisco, California. Also known as Mrs. William Ellis Corey.
- Mae Costello (August 13, 1882 - August 2, 1929) Born Mae Altschuk in Brooklyn, New York.
- Lotta Crabtree (November 7, 1847 - September 25, 1924) Born Charlotte Mignon Crabtree in New York City.
- Marcella Craft (August 11, 1874 - December 12, 1959) Born Marcia Craft in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Maida Craigen (1861 - April 5, 1942)
- Laura Hope Crews (December 12, 1879 - November 12, 1942) Born in San Francisco, California.
- Eliza Crisp
- Henrietta Crosman (September 2, 1861 - October 31, 1944) Born Henrietta Foster Crosman in Wheeling, West Virginia.
- Charlotte Cushman (July 23, 1816 - February 18, 1876) Born Charlotte Suanders Cushman in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Pauline Cushman (June 10, 1833 - December 2, 1893) Born Harriet Wood in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Susan Webb Cushman (March 17, 1822 - May 10, 1859) Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
D
- Margaret Dale (actress) (March 6, 1876 – March 23, 1972) Born Margaret Rosendale in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Helen Dauvray (February 14, 1859 – December 6, 1923) Born in San Francisco, California.
- Alice Davenport (February 29, 1864 – June 24, 1936) Born Alice Shepphard in New York, New York.
- Milla Davenport (February 4, 1871 – May 17, 1936) Born in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Phoebe Davies (February 7, 1864 – December 4, 1912) Born in Cardigan, Wales.
- Fay Davis (December 15, 1873 – February 27, 1945) Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Henrietta Vinton Davis (August 25, 1860 – November 23, 1941) Born in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Jessie Bartlett Davis (1860 – May 14, 1905) Born Jessie Fremont Bartlett in Morris, Illinois.
- May de Sousa (November 6, 1884 – August 8, 1948)
- Julia Dean (actress) (July 22, 1830 – March 6, 1868) Born in Pleasant Valley, New York.
- Camille D'elmar (1860 – September 26, 1902) Born Geraldine Lodge in Rochester, New York.
- Kate Denin (1837 - February 5, 1907) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Susan Denin (March 22, 1835 - December 4, 1875) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Laura Don (February 20, 1852 – February 10, 1886) Born Anna Laura Fish in Glens Falls, New York.
- Frances Ann Denny Drake (1797-1875)
- Virginia Dreher (1857/59- November 11, 1898) Born Jennie Cummings Murphy in Kentucky.
- Louise Dresser (October 5, 1878 – April 24, 1965) Born Louise Josephine Kerlin in Evansville, Indiana.
- Dorothy Drew
- Georgiana Drew (July 11, 1856 – July 2, 1893) Born Georgiana Emma Drew in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also known as Georgie Drew Barrymore.
- Louisa Lane Drew (January 10, 1820 – August 31, 1897) Born Louisa Lane in London, England.
- Helen Dunbar (October 10, 1863 – August 28, 1933) Born Katheryn Burke Lackey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Minnie Dupree (January 19, 1875 - May 23, 1947) Born in San Francisco, California.
- Maud Durbin (November 9, 1871 – December 25, 1936) Born in Moberly, Missouri.
E
- Virginia Earle (August 6, 1873 – September 21, 1937) Born Virginia Earl in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Elise, Countess of Edla (May 22, 1836 - May 21, 1929) Born Elise Fredericke Hensler in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
- Maxine Elliott (February 5, 1868 - March 5, 1940) Born Jessie Dermott in Rockland, Maine.
- Edith Ellis (playwright) (June 1866 - December 27, 1960) Also known as Edith Ellis Baker, born in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.
- Effie Ellsler (September 17, 1855 – October 8, 1942) Born Euphemia Ellsler in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Agnes Ethel (May 1, 1846 – May 26, 1903) Also known as Agnes Ethel Tracy, she was born in New York City.
- Lizzie Evans (1864 - unknown) Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
- Pearl Eytinge (1854 – 1914) Born Pearl Wyckoff from New York.
- Rose Eytinge (November 21, 1835 – December 20, 1911) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
F
- Maude Fealy (March 4, 1883 - November 9, 1971) Born Maude Mary Hawk in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Elsie Ferguson (August 19, 1885 - November 15, 1961) Born in New York City.
- Bijou Fernandez (November 4, 1873? - November 7, 1961) Born in New York City.
- Eliza Riddle Field (1812 - 1871)
- Kate Field (October 1, 1838 - May 19, 1896) Born Mary Katherine Keemle Field was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Margarita Fischer (February 12, 1886 – March 11, 1975) Born in Missouri Valley, Iowa. She also went by Margarita Fisher and Margurita Fisher.
- Minnie Maddern Fiske (December 19, 1865 - February 15, 1932) Born Marie Augusta Davey in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also went by Mrs. Fiske.
- Harriet Ford (1863 - December 12, 1949) Born Harriet French Ford in Seymore, Connecticut. She also went by the name Mrs. Forde Morgan.
- Louise Woodworth Foss (April 18, 1841 - September 22, 1892) Born Louisa Sanborn in Thetford, Vermont.
- Della Fox (October 13, 1870 - June 15, 1913) Born Della May Fox in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Frances Denny Drake (1797–1872)
- Irene Franklin (June 13, 1876 - June 16, 1941) Born in New York City.
- Olive Fremstad (March 14, 1871 - April 21, 1951) Born Anna Olivia Rundquist in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Emma Sheridan Fry (October 1, 1864 - 1936) Born Emma Viola Sheridan in Painesville, Ohio. She also went by the pen name Polly and E.V. Sheridan.
G
- Minna Gale (September 26, 1869 – March 4, 1944) Born Minna Kathalina Gale in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She is also credited as Minna K. Gale and Minna Gale Haynes.
- Bertha Galland (November 15, 1876 - November, 20, 1932) Born near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
- Grace George (December 25, 1879 - May 19, 1961) Born in New York City.
- Effie Germon (June 13, 1843 - March 6, 1914) Born Mary Euphemia Germon in Augusta, Georgia.
- Sylvia Gerrish May 1860 - December 8, 1906) Born Lillian M. Rollins in Big Oak Flat, California.
- Amelia Holman Gilfert (1789 - 1833) Born Catherine Amelia Holman Gilfert in England.
- Lulu Glaser (June 2, 1874 - September 5, 1958) Born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania.
- Katherine Grey (actress) (1873 - 1950) Born in San Francisco, California.
- Louise Gunning (April 1, 1879 - July 24, 1960) Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
H
- Louise Closser Hale (October 13, 1872 – July 26, 1933) Born Louise Closser in Chicago, Illinois.
- Laura Nelson Hall (July 11, 1876 – July 11, 1936) Born Laura Barnhurst in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Pauline Hall (February 26, 1860 – December 29, 1919) Born Pauline Fredrika Schmidgall in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Elizabeth Hamblin (1799 - 1849) Born Elizabeth Blanchard.
- Virginia Harned (May 29, 1868 – April 29, 1946) Born Virginia Hicks in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Alice Harrison (1849 – May 3, 1896)
- Percy Haswell (April 30, 1871 - June 14, 1945) Born in Austin, Texas. She was also billed as Miss Percy Haswell and Mrs. George Fawcett.
- Ella Hattan (1859 - unknown) Born in Zanesville, Ohio. She was also known as La Jaguarina.
- Grace Henderson (January 1860 – October 30, 1944) Born Grace C. F. Roth in Ann Arbor, Michigan. she was also known as Grace C.F. Roth Henderson.
- Ogarita Booth Henderson (October 23, 1859 – April 12, 1892) Bor Ogarita Elizabeth Bellows in Providence, Rhode Island. She also went by the name Ogarita Wilkes, Rita Booth, and Ogarita Booth Henderson.
- Beatrice Herford
- Adrienne McNeil Herndon
- Chrystal Herne
- Bijou Heron
- Matilda Heron
- Mabel Hite
- Edna Wallace Hopper
- Kate Horn
- Jean Hosmer
- Lotty Hough
- Jobyna Howland
- Caroline Miskel Hoyt
- Hyers Sisters
I
- Isabel Irving (February 18, 1871 - September 1, 1944) Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
J
- Ethel Jackson (November 1, 1877 – November 23, 1957) Born Ethel Hart Jackson in Berlin, Germany.
- Fanny Janauschek (July 20, 1829 – November 28, 1904) Born Franziska Romana Magdalena Janauschek in Prague, Austrian Empire.
- Elsie Janis (March 16, 1889 – February 26, 1956) Born Elsie Bierbower in Marion, Ohio.
- Marie Jansen (November 18, 1857 – March 20, 1914) Born Harriet Mary Johnson in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Cornelia Frances Jefferson (October 1, 1796 - October 24, 1848) Born Cornelia Frances Thomas in New York.
- Maud Jeffries (December 14, 1869 - September 26, 1946) Born Maud Evelyn Craven Jeffries at Willow Farm, Coahoma County, Mississippi.
- Izetta Jewel (November 24, 1883 – November 14, 1978) Born Izetta Jewel Kenney in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
- Susan Johnstone (November 29, 1792 - December 25, 1850) Born Georgiana Susannah Johnston in Covent Garden, London.
- Avonia Jones (July 12, 1839 – October 4, 1867) Born in New York City.
- Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones (January 5, 1868 or 1869 – June 24, 1933) Born Matilda SIssieretta Joyner, also known as The Black Patti, in Portsmouth, Virginia.
- Pauline Joran (August 3, 1870 - August 13, 1954) Born Clara Pauline Joran in Freeport, Illinois.
K
- Florence Kahn (actress) (March 3, 1878 - January 13, 1951) Born in Memphis Tennessee. Also known as Lady Beerbohm.
- Bertha Kalich (May 17, 1874 - April 18, 1939) Born Beylke Kalakh in present day Lviv, Ukraine. She also spelled her name Kalish.
- Kathleen Kerrigan (actress) (c. 1869 - January 17, 1957) Born in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Kathryn Kidder (1868 – September 7, 1939) Also known as Mrs. L.K. Anspacher, she was born in Newark, New Jersey.
- Jennie Kimball (June 20, 1848 – March 23, 1896) Born in Portland, Maine, she was also known by the names Jennie Kimball Flaherty and Jennie Kimball Schaefer.
- Sarah Kirby-Stark (1813–1898)
- Mrs. Edward Knight (July 26, 1804 - 1861) Born Mary Ann Povey in Birmingham, England.
L
- Lucille La Verne
- La Sylphe
- Paulina Lavitz
- Lillian Lawrence
- Louise Le Baron
- Sarah Cowell Le Moyne
- Jennie Lee (American actress)
- Lillian Lee
- Mercedes Leigh
- Amy Leslie
- Elsie Leslie
- Annie Lewis
- Clara Lipman
- Keni Liptzin
- Little Tuesday
- Eliza Logan
- Olive Logan
- Marion Lorne
M
- Annie Mack
- Jessie Mackaye
- Marietta Judah
- Julia Marlowe
- Mary Maurice
- Olive May
- Kate Mayhew
- Margaret Mayo (playwright)
- Mollie McConnell
- Nancy McIntosh
- Margaret McWade
- Rose Melville
- Adah Isaacs Menken
- Ann Brunton Merry
- Maggie Mitchell
- Helena Modjeska
- Virginia Monier
- Annabelle Moore
- Polly Moran
- Jane Morgan (actress)
- Giuseppina Morlacchi
- Clara Morris
- Anna Cora Mowatt
N
- Miriam Nesbitt (September 14, 1873 - August 11, 1954) Born in Chicago, Illinois.
- Alice Nielsen (June 7, 1872 - March 8, 1943) Born in Nashville, Tennessee.
O
- Alice Oates (September 22, 1849 - January 10, 1887) Born Alice Merritt in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Maude Odell (November 10, 1870 - February 27, 1939) Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, she was also known as Maude O'Dell, Tillie Doremus and Maude Odell Doremus.
- Peggy O'Neil (June 16, 1898 - January 7, 1960) Born in Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, Ireland.
- Julie Opp (January 28, 1871 - April 9, 1921) Born in New York City.
- Elita Proctor Otis (1851/1860 - August 10, 1927) Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
P
- Mabel Paige
- Minnie Palmer
- Charlotte Blair Parker
- Jane Peyton
- Annie Pixley
- Charlotte Wrighten Placide
- Jane Placide
- Eliza Poe
- Madame Ponisi
- Lily Post
- Kate Price (actress)
- Eva Puck
Q
R
- Lulah Ragsdale
- Jessie Ralph
- Phyllis Rankin
- Dora Knowlton Ranous
- Kate Raymond
- Olive Redpath
- Ada Rehan
- Carrie Reynolds
- Fanny Rice
- Emily Rigl
- Blanche Ring
- Annie Robe
- Florence Roberts
- Florence Roberts (actress)
- May Robson
- Genevieve Rogers
- Rose Sydell
- Isadore Rush
- Ada Dwyer Russell
- Annie Russell
- Lillian Russell
S
- Josie Sadler
- Julia Sanderson
- Sibyl Sanderson
- Zelda Sears
- Evelyn Selbie
- Selene Johnson
- Effie Shannon
- Truly Shattuck
- Charlotte Shelby
- Sydney Shields
- Catherine Norton Sinclair
- Beverley Sitgreaves
- Rose Stahl
- Genevieve Stebbins
- Rowena Granice Steele
T
- Edith Taliaferro
- Fay Templeton
- Gertrude Thanhouser
- Bessie Thomashefsky
- Minnie Tittell Brune
- Helen Tracy
- Sarah Truax
- Carrie Turner (actress)
- Florence Turner
- Odette Tyler
- Elizabeth Tyree
U
- Geraldine Ulmar (June 23, 1862 - August 13, 1932) Born Annie Geraldine Ulmar in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
- Isabelle Urquhart (December 9, 1865 - February 7, 1907) Born in New York City.
V
- Grace Van Studdiford (January 8, 1873 - January 29, 1927) Born Grace Quivey in North Manchester, Indiana.
- Marie van Zandt (October 8 1858 - December 31, 1919) Born in Manhattan, New York City.
- Vera Freeman (1865 - 1896)
- Mary Ann Vincent (September 18, 1818 - September 4, 1887) Born in Portsmouth, England.
- Annie Von Behren (1857 - November 30, 1882) Born in New York City.
W
- Marie Wainwright (May 8, 1853 - August 17, 1923) Born Marie Page Wainwright in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Charlotte Walker (December 20, 1876 – March 23, 1958) Born Charlotte Ganahl Walker in Galveston, Texas.
- Aida Overton Walker (February 14, 1880 – October 11, 1914) Born Aida Overton in Richmond, Virginia. She also spelled her name "Ada."
- Blanche Walsh (January 4, 1873 – October 31, 1915) Born in New York City.
- Fannie Ward (February 22, 1872 – January 27, 1952) Born Fannie Buchanan in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Helen Ware (October 15, 1877 – January 25, 1939) Born Helen Remer in San Francisco, California.
- Ida Waterman (March 10, 1852 – May 22, 1941) Born Ida Shaw in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Stella Weaver (1856 – June 3, 1936) Born Stella Boniface Weaver in Richmond, Virginia.
- Mary E. Webb (1828 – June 17, 1859) Born Mary Espartero Webb in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
- Rebecca Weintraub (1873-July 30, 1952) Born in Odessa, Russian Empire.
- Lucille Western (January 8, 1843 - January 11, 1877) Born Pauline Lucille Western.
- Helen Westley (March 28, 1875 – December 12, 1942) Born Henrietta Remsen Meserole Manney in Brooklyn, New York.
- Sarah Wheatley (1790 - July 1854) Born Sarah Ross in St. John, New Brunswick.
- Blanche Whiffen (1845–1936) Born Blanche Galton, and also known as Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, in London, England.
- Whitman Sisters
- Mabel (May) Whitman (1880 - 1942) Born in Ohio.
- Essie Barbara Whitman (July 4, 1882 - May 7, 1963) Born in Osceola, Arkansas.
- Alberta "Bert" Whitman (1887 - 1964) Born in Kansas.
- Alice Whitman (1900 - December 29, 1968) Born in Georgia.
- Dora Wiley (1852/53 - November 2, 1924) Born in Bucksport, Maine.
- Bertha M. Wilson (August 14, 1874 – 1936) Born Bertha May Wilson in Missouri.
- Jennie Worrell (1850 - August 11, 1899) Born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
XYZ
- Ellen Beach Yaw (September 14, 1869 - September 9, 1947) Born near Buffalo, New York.
- Annie Yeamans (November 19, 1835 - March 3, 1912) Born Annie Griffiths Yeamans outside of the United States.
- May Yohé (April 6, 1866 - August 29, 1938) Born Mary Augusta Yohe in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
- Rida Johnson Young (February 28, 1875 - May 8, 1926) Born in Baltimore, Maryland.
For more 19th century American actresses not included in the Folger Collection, see the following list:
Wikipedia American Shakespearean Actresses of the 19th Century