Spence, Eulalie, 1894-1981

Eulalie Spence
June 11, 1894 – March 7, 1981
Eulalie Spence; Black playwright, teacher, director, and actress who immigrated to New York City from the British West Indies; an influential member of the Harlem Renaissance, writing fourteen plays, at least five of which were published during her lifetime; presented several plays with W.E.B. Du Bois’ Krigwa Players, and was also an early mentor to theatrical producer Joseph Papp; became the first Black woman produced on Broadway when her play The Fool’s Errand played a one night bill at The Frolic Theatre; born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies on June 11, 1894, to Robert and Eno Lake Spence, the oldest of seven girls; moved to New York City with her family in 1902, living in Harlem before eventually settling in Brooklyn; graduated from Wadleigh High School and the New York Training School for Teachers; a student at the National Ethiopian Art Theatre School, 1924; received a B.A. in 1937 from New York University and an M.A. in speech in 1939 from Columbia University, where she studied under the Hatcher Hughes

Eulalie Spence; born June 11, 1894; died March 7, 1981; black writer, teacher, director, actress and playwright from the British West Indies; an influential member of the Harlem Renaissance; wrote fourteen plays, at least five of which were published; presented several plays with W.E.B. Du Bois' Krigwa Players, of which she was a member from 1926 to 1928; was amentor to theatrical producer Joseph Papp; Spence was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies to Robert and Eno Lake Spence; oldest of seven girls; spent her formative years on her father's sugar plantation; moved to New York City with her family in 1902, living in Harlem before eventually settling in Brooklyn; graduated from Wadleigh High School and the New York Training School for Teachers; was a student at the National Ethiopian Art Theatre School, 1924; received a B.A. in 1937 from New York University and an M.A. in speech in 1939 from Teacher's College, Columbia University, where she studied under Hatcher Hughes; teaching in the New York public school system in 1918, including over thirty years (1927-1958) at the Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, where she taught elocution, English, and dramatics; one of her students during that time was Joseph Papp; her plays of Eulalie helped to make a name for the Krigwa Players founded by W.E.B. Du Bois; died in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the age of 86

Eulalie Spence; born in Nevis, West Indies, June 11, 1884; moved to New York in 1902; among the pioneer playwrights during the Harlem Renaissance; wrote fourteen plays, five of which were published; wrote one three act play, "The Whipping," which was optioned by Paramount Studios, but never made into a film; several of Spence's plays won awards