List of American women in 19th century theater

This page is currently under construction. Check back regularly for updates.

The "Hamnet Records" are an exhaustive list of items found on Hamnet and do not include items from the card catalog. "Other Resources" is not an exhaustive list, but is information gathered from Folger website pages and outside resources.

A

• Emma Abbott - (December 9, 1850 - January 5, 1891) Born in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Hamnet Records
    • ART File A131 no.1 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A131 no.2 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File Vol. b2 no. 108 PHOTO (size M) - Photo of Emma Abbott c. 1870-1891
  • Other resources
    • Internet Archive
    • Notable American Women Vol. 2

• Maude Adams (November 11, 1872 - July 17, 1953) Born Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Hamnet Records
    • ART File A215 no.1 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A215 no.2 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A215 no.3 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A215 no.4 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A215 no.5 PHOTO (size M)
    • ART File A215 no.6 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File S528r1 no.144-150 PHOTO (size M) (Luna Images available)
    • Maude Adams Romeo and Juliet - PR2831 .A38 Sh.Col.
    • Acting Editions of Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet PR2831 1899-1 Sh.Col. / PR2831 1899-2 Sh.Col.
    • Yale University Dramatic Association Twelfth Night - Program 259223
    • Manuscripts - Y.c.11 (1-2)
    • Acting Edition of Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet PR2831 1899 Copy 3 (Open Stacks)
    • Maude Adams by Acton Davies - PN2287 .A4 D3 (Open Stacks)
  • Other resources
    • Folgerpedia - Here Is a Play Fitted Exhibition
    • Heroines of the Modern Stage
    • Encyclopedia.com

• Viola Allen (October 27, 1867 - May 9, 1948) Born Viola Emily Allen in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Hamnet Records
    • ART File A431 no.2-69 PHOTO
    • ART Box H584 no.1 - 36 (size L)
    • ART Box H584 no.37 - 60 (size L)
    • Scrapbook 265363 -Collection of theatre programs and photographs compiled by Viola Allen
    • Prompt D3 - Daughter of Heaven
    • Prompt H5 - The Hunchback (Viola Allen copy)
    • Prompt I3 - Irene Wycherley (Property of Viola Allen)
    • Prompt L14 - The Lady of Coventry (Written for a Viola Allen production)
    • Prompt P24 - Phaedra (Former Owner)
    • Prompt Cymb. 19 - Cymbeline (As played by Viola Allen)
    • Prompt Mac. 1 - Macbeth (Former Owner)
    • Prompt Merch. 1 - Merchant of Venice (Former Owner)
    • Prompt T.N. 1
    • Prompt T.N. 28 (Viola Allen's version)
    • Prompt Wint. T. 1 (Former owner, inscribed)
    • The Winter's Tale presented by Viola Allen and Co. - PR2839 1950b Copy 1 Sh.Col. / PR2839 1950b Copy 2 Sh.Col. (Gustav Kobbé copy, autograph presentation note by Allen)
    • Manuscripts - Y.c. 29 / Y.c. 46 (1-4) / Y.c. 61 (1-96) / Y.c. 156 (1-2) / Y.c. 222 (1) / Y.c. 223 (1) / Y.c. 245 (1) / Y.c. 260 (1-5) / Y.c. 367 (1) / Y.c. 452 (1-3) / Y.c. 518 (1-2) / Y.c. 531 (1) / Y.c. 558 (1-3) / Y.c. 598 (1) / Y.c. 634 / Y.c. 636 / Y.c. 645 / Y.c. 678 (1-3) / Y.c. 775 (1) / Y.c. 785 (1-3) / Y.c. 806 (1-9) / Y.c. 818 (1) / Y.c. 906 (1-10) / Y.c. 984 (1-5) / Y.c. 1022 (1) / Y.c. 1356 (1) / Y.c. 2138 (1-6) / Y.c. 2186 / Y.c. 2198 / Y.c. 2218 / Y.c. 2294 / Y.c. 2323 / Y.c. 2389 / Y.c. 2451 (1-4) / Y.c. 2536 / Y.c. 3368 / Y.c. 3875 / Y.c. 5388 / Y.c. 5497 (1-2) / Y.c. 5498 / Y.c. 5675-76 / Y.c. 5803 / Y.c. 5895 / Y.c. 6046 / Y.c. 6334 / Y.c. 6686 (1-14) / Y.c. 7265 / Y.c. 7300 (1-18) / Y.c. 7348 (1-8)
  • Other resources
    • Folgerpedia - Manuscript collection development
    • Folgerpedia - Deaccessioned Paintings
    • Folgerpedia - Acquisitions 2015/2016
    • Folgerpedia - Shakespeare, Past and Presidents
    • Huntsville History Collection
    • Library of Congress

• Mary Anderson (July 28, 1859 - May 29, 1940) Born Mary Antoinette Anderson in Sacramento, California.
  • Hamnet Records
    • Portrait - 242953 ART (postcard art)
    • Portrait - 242954 ART (photo print)
    • ART Box A444 no.1-3 (size S)
    • ART File A548 no.1 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.2-18 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.19 pt.1 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.19 pt.2 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.19 pt.3 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.20-23 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no. 24-26 PHOTO (size S)
    • ART File A548 no.27 PHOTO (size XS) - as Galatea
    • ART File A548 no.28-30 PHOTO (size XS)
    • ART File A548 no.31 (size S)
    • ART File A548 no.32 (size XL) - Romeo and Juliet
    • ART File A548 no.33 PHOTO (size XS) - as Juliet
    • ART Vol. a8 no.26b
    • ART Vol. a53 - The Stage Life of Mary Anderson by William Winter
    • ART Vol. b23 no.90 PHOTO
    • ART Vol. b66 - The Stage Life of Mary Anderson by William Winter
    • ART Vol. c4 no.117 PHOTO
    • ART Vol. c9 no.34 and 34a PHOTO
    • PN2287.A6 W6 Cage - The Stage Life of Mary Anderson by William Winter
    • Manuscripts - Y.c. 1109 (1-3) / Y.c. 3405 / Y.c. 6370 / Y.c. 7107 / Y.d. 280
    • A Few Memories by Mary Anderson - PN2287 .A6 A3 (Open Stacks)
    • Concerning Men and Other Papers by Dinah Craik - PR4516 .C6 (Open Stacks)
    • Mary Anderson by Maurice J. Farrar - PN2287 .A6 F3 and PN2287 .A6 F2 Ex.ill. (Open Stacks)
  • Other Resources
    • Folgerpedia - Shakespeare, Past and Presidents
    • Heroines of the Modern Stage

B

• Isabel Bateman (December 28, 1854 - 1934) Born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
    • Manuscripts - Y.c. 106 (1) / Y.c. 2672 (1-5)
  • Other Resources
    • Internet Archive E-Book
      
• Kate Josephine Bateman Crowe (October 7, 1842/43 - April 8, 1917) Born Kate Josephine Bateman in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Hamnet Records
    • ART 254823 (Realia B3b) - Wooden dressing case
    • Manuscripts - Y.c. 665 (1) / Y.c. 2673 (1-3) / Y.c. 2948 (1-6) / Y.c. 6429
    • Prompt Ham. 77 ("Autograph on p. [1]: Mrs. Bateman")
  • Other Resources
    • National Portrait Gallery UK
      
• Sidney Frances Bateman (March 29, 1823 - January 13, 1881) Born Sidney Frances Cowell in England.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Virginia Frances Bateman (January 1, 1853 - May 4, 1940) Born in New York, she was also known as Mrs. Edward Compton and Virginia Mackenzie.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Blanche Bates (August 25, 1873 - December 25, 1941) Born in Portland, Oregon.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Kitty Blanchard (1847 - December 14, 1911) Born Elizabeth Blanchard from Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Lillian Blauvelt (1873 - 1947) Born in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Agnes Booth (October 4, 1843 - January 2, 1910) Born Marian Agnes Land Rookes in Sydney, New South Wales.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter (May 15, 1857 - February 12, 1936) Born Mary Cora Urquhart in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Marie Burroughs (1866 - March 4, 1926) Born Lillie Arrington in San Jose, California.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

C

• Marie Cahill (December 29, 1866 - August 23, 1933) Born Mary "Marie" Cahill in Brooklyn, New York.
  • Hamnet Records for Marie Cahill
  • Other Resources
• Beatrice Cameron (1868 - July 12, 1940) Born Susan Hegeman in Troy, New York.
  • Hamnet Records for Beatrice Cameron
  • Other Resources
• Leslie Carter (June 10, 1857 - November 13, 1937) Born Caroline Louise Dudley in Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Hamnet Records for Leslie Carter
  • Other Resources
• Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 - June 18, 1956) Born Mary Louise Stieger in Davenport, Iowa.
  • Hamnet Records for Louise Carver
  • Other Resources
• Georgia Cayvan (August 22, 1857 - November 19, 1906) Born Georgie Eva Cayvan in Bath, Maine.
  • Hamnet Records for Georgia Cayvan
  • Other Resources
• Henrietta Baker Chanfrau (1837 - 1909) Born Jeannette Davis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records for Henrietta Baker Chanfrau
  • Other Resources
• Caroline Chapman (c. 1818 - May 8, 1876) Born in San Francisco, California.
  • Hamnet Records for Caroline Chapman
  • Other Resources
• Ada Clare (July, 1834 - March 4, 1874) Born Ada Agnes Jane McElhenney in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Marguerite Clark (February 22, 1883 - September 25, 1940) Born Helen Marguerite Clark in Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Kate Claxton (August 24, 1848 - May 5, 1924) Born in Somerville, New Jersey.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Ella Maria Dietz Clymer (January 27, 1847 - January 9, 1920) Born Ella Maria Dietz in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Ida Conquest (February 26, 1876 - July 12, 1937)
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Sarah Crocker Conway (1834 - April 28, 1875) Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Lotta Crabtree (November 7, 1847 - September 25, 1924) Born Charlotte Mignon Crabtree in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Maida Craigen (1861 - April 5, 1942)
  • Hamnet Record for Craigen
  • Other Resources
• Henrietta Crosman (September 2, 1861 - October 31, 1944) Born Henrietta Foster Crosman in Wheeling, West Virginia.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Charlotte Cushman (July 23, 1816 - February 18, 1876) Born Charlotte Suanders Cushman in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
  • Shakespeare Unlimited
  • Musselman Library Special Collections
  • Library of Congress
  • New England Historical Society
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • The Charlotte Cushman Foundation
  • Folgerpedia
• Susan Webb Cushman (March 17, 1822 - May 10, 1859) Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

D

• Fay Davis (December 15, 1873 – February 27, 1945) Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Julia Dean (actress) (July 22, 1830 – March 6, 1868) Born in Pleasant Valley, New York.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Kate Denin (1837 - February 5, 1907) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Laura Don (February 20, 1852 – February 10, 1886) Born Anna Laura Fish in Glens Falls, New York.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Virginia Dreher (1857/59- November 11, 1898) Born Jennie Cummings Murphy in Kentucky.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Louisa Lane Drew (January 10, 1820 – August 31, 1897) Born Louisa Lane in London, England.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Maud Durbin (November 9, 1871 – December 25, 1936) Born in Moberly, Missouri.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

E

• Virginia Earle (August 6, 1873 – September 21, 1937) Born Virginia Earl in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Maxine Elliott (February 5, 1868 - March 5, 1940) Born Jessie Dermott in Rockland, Maine.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Effie Ellsler (September 17, 1855 – October 8, 1942) Born Euphemia Ellsler in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Agnes Ethel (May 1, 1846 – May 26, 1903) Also known as Agnes Ethel Tracy, she was born in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Rose Eytinge (November 21, 1835 – December 20, 1911) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

F

• Bijou Fernandez (November 4, 1873? - November 7, 1961) Born in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Kate Field (October 1, 1838 - May 19, 1896) Born Mary Katherine Keemle Field was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Minnie Maddern Fiske (December 19, 1865 - February 15, 1932) Born Marie Augusta Davey in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also went by Mrs. Fiske.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
  • Heroines of the Modern Stage
• Harriet Ford (1863 - December 12, 1949) Born Harriet French Ford in Seymore, Connecticut. She also went by the name Mrs. Forde Morgan.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

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.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Effie Germon (June 13, 1843 - March 6, 1914) Born Mary Euphemia Germon in Augusta, Georgia.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

H

• Laura Nelson Hall (July 11, 1876 – July 11, 1936) Born Laura Barnhurst in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Pauline Hall (February 26, 1860 – December 29, 1919) Born Pauline Fredrika Schmidgall in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
    • Y.c.3858 (1-7)
  • Other Resources
• Virginia Harned (May 29, 1868 – April 29, 1946) Born Virginia Hicks in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Percy Haswell (April 30, 1871 - June 14, 1945) Born in Austin, Texas. She was also billed as Miss Percy Haswell and Mrs. George Fawcett.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Chrystal Herne
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Bijou Heron
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Matilda Heron
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Edna Wallace Hopper
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Jean Hosmer
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Jobyna Howland
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Caroline Miskel Hoyt
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

I

• Isabel Irving (February 18, 1871 - September 1, 1944) Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

J

• Fanny Janauschek (July 20, 1829 – November 28, 1904) Born Franziska Romana Magdalena Janauschek in Prague, Austrian Empire.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Marie Jansen (November 18, 1857 – March 20, 1914) Born Harriet Mary Johnson in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Maud Jeffries (December 14, 1869 - September 26, 1946) Born Maud Evelyn Craven Jeffries at Willow Farm, Coahoma County, Mississippi.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Avonia Jones (July 12, 1839 – October 4, 1867) Born in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

K

• Kathryn Kidder (1868 – September 7, 1939) Also known as Mrs. L.K. Anspacher, she was born in Newark, New Jersey.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• 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.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

L

• Sarah Cowell Le Moyne
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Elsie Leslie
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Eliza Logan
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Olive Logan
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

M

• Julia Marlowe
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
  • Heroines of the Modern Stage
  • Britannica
  • Library of Congress
  • Internet Broadway Database
  • New York Public Library
  • NYPL Digital Images
• Kate Mayhew
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Nancy McIntosh
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Adah Isaacs Menken
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Ann Brunton Merry
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Maggie Mitchell
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Helena Modjeska
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resourcs
  • Heroines of the Modern Stage
• Clara Morris
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Anna Cora Mowatt
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

N

O

• Elita Proctor Otis (1851/1860 - August 10, 1927) Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

P

• Minnie Palmer
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Annie Pixley
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Madame Ponisi
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

Q

R

• Dora Knowlton Ranous
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Ada Rehan
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Carrie Reynolds
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Fanny Rice
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Emily Rigl
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• May Robson
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Annie Russell
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Lillian Russell
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

S

• Effie Shannon
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Truly Shattuck
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Catherine Norton Sinclair
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

T

• Fay Templeton
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Gertrude Thanhouser
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Florence Turner
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Elizabeth Tyree
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

U

• Geraldine Ulmar (June 23, 1862 - August 13, 1932) Born Annie Geraldine Ulmar in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

V

• Marie van Zandt (October 8 1858 - December 31, 1919) Born in Manhattan, New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

W

• Marie Wainwright (May 8, 1853 - August 17, 1923) Born Marie Page Wainwright in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Blanche Walsh (January 4, 1873 – October 31, 1915) Born in New York City.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Helen Ware (October 15, 1877 – January 25, 1939) Born Helen Remer in San Francisco, California.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Ida Waterman (March 10, 1852 – May 22, 1941) Born Ida Shaw in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Mary E. Webb (1828 – June 17, 1859) Born Mary Espartero Webb in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Blanche Whiffen (1845–1936) Born Blanche Galton, and also known as Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, in London, England.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources
• Jennie Worrell (1850 - August 11, 1899) Born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Hamnet Records
  • Other Resources

XYZ

• Annie Yeamans (November 19, 1835 - March 3, 1912) Born Annie Griffiths Yeamans outside of the United States.
  • Hamnet Records
    • Manuscript Correspondence: Y.c. 5270 (1-13)
  • Other Resources
    • California Digital Newspaper Collection (Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research)
    • Vaudeville Old & New

For more 19th century American actresses not included in the Folger Collection, see the following list:

Wikipedia American Shakespearean Actresses of the 19th Century