MSS255_B79_032-001 |
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Object Description
| Title | [Correspondence of Helena Modjeska] |
| Date | 1885-11-17 |
| Creator | Modjeska, Helena |
| Character roles | Helena Modjeska (Mary Stuart) |
| Artistic roles | Helena Modjeska (Actor) |
| Genre | Tragedy |
| Theme | Women in 19th C. Theatre |
| Item description | Correspondence of Polish-American actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) to an unknown recipient on 17 Nov. 1885. The letter was dictated by Modjeska to another writer and is signed by Modjeska. The letter is written in ink on a piece of heavy stationery which is folded in half to form a card. The letter is accompanied by a small painting in watercolor and ink on paper, presumably a rendering of Helena Modjeska in the role of "Mary Stuart. |
| Object narrative | Tragic actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) was born in Poland into a large family with the name Helena Opid. Her paternity has been somewhat disputed, but she claims her father was Michael Opid, a teacher of music and lover of the arts. While some doubt he was her father, he was no doubt at least her godfather and lived with the family, recognizing and encouraging Helena's early musical and dramatic flair. Older siblings joined the acting profession, and at sixteen years of age she attempted to do so as well, although her debut was a laughable failure. Within a few years she had joined a traveling company (other members of which were two of her older brothers), and she began receiving attention. She had changed her last name to Modezejewska in the intervening years through marriage to an old friend of the family, and he was one of those who helped establish the touring troupe. Touring Poland and Germany for the next several years, she honed her talents, had two children, and left her husband. She married a Polish nobleman in 1868 and together they emigrated to the United States in 1876. Their dream of becoming California ranchers died quickly, however, and Modjeska (her shortened name) quickly set about learning English so she could return to the stage, which she did in San Francisco in 1877 as Adrienne Lecouvreur. She had her New York debut later that year in the same role, and her success was immediate. After three years in Europe and London working on her English and performing there, she returned to America in 1882 to even more fame and fortune. By the late 1880s, she was performing alongside Edwin Booth during the last years of his career. She was known as the preeminent American Shakespearean actress of her generation and toured both America and Europe multiple times during her career. Her favorite and most notable roles were Juliet, Ophelia, Queen Anne in Richard III and Nora in A Doll's House, which she initiated the first performance of in the United States in Louisville, KY. She retired to and died in Newport Beach, CA, the first actor celebrity to settle in Southern CA. This letter was written to an organizer of the North Central and South American Exposition which was held in New Orleans from 10 Nov. 1885-April 1, 1886. The Exposition was meant to be a gathering of the nation's latest industry, art, and mechanical skills, with states bringing their different wares to exhibit in an effort to create more interstate commerce. With the help of the Illinois Central Railroad, Americans were shuttled down to New Orleans to experience all the country had to offer. It was kind of like a nationwide, five month county fair! To the exposition, Modjeska was contributing a doll depicting herself in the role of Mary Stuart. This note was written on 17 Nov. 1885 by a proxy, and signed by Modjeska. Accompanying the letter is a small painting of, presumably, the doll Modjeska sent. The letter reads: Dear Madam, I hope you will excuse my long delay in answering your kind letter, but I was hard at work at the beginning of my season, and did not want to write before being able to fulfill your desire and sending you a doll dressed in one of my parts. Today I have forwarded to your address a little figure in the costume of the last act of Mary Stuart. This costume is made entirely by my hands, and is a reproduction of the dress I wear in the last act, which was designed faithfully after the description as conserved in the British Archives of the costume worn by the unhappy Queen at her execution. I am sorry the head is not suitable for the character, but I could not find any better one. Please accept my kind regards as well as my best wishes for the beautiful enterprise you represent at the American Exposition and believe me Yours sincerely Helena Modjeska Milwaukee, Nov. 17th 1885. |
| Type | Text |
| Original format | Correspondence |
| Original publisher | [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] |
| Language | en |
| Contributing institution | Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries |
| Source collection | MSS255 Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection |
| Series/grouping | 10.1.1: Photographs, Cards, Caricatures/Satire and Other Pictoral Materials -- Photographs -- People |
| Box | 79 |
| Finding aid link | http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/manuscripts/ead/mss255.xml |
| Preferred citation | [Identification of item], Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection, 1753-2006 (MSS255), Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives and Manuscripts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA. |
| Rights statement | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ |
| Additional rights information | NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES. This item has been determined to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. The user is responsible for determing actual copyright status for any reuse of the material. |
| Object ID | MSS255.079.032 |
| Digital publisher | The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304 |
| OCLC number | 872280770 |
Page/Item Description
| Title | MSS255_B79_032-001 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing institution | Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries |
| Finding aid link | http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/manuscripts/ead/mss255.xml |
| Preferred citation | [Identification of item], Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection, 1753-2006 (MSS255), Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives and Manuscripts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA. |
