Fiske, Harrison Grey, 1861-1942

Biographical Notes

Minnie Maddern Fiske

• 1865, Dec. 19: Born Marie Augusta Davey, New Orleans, La.
• 1868: First stage performance, as the young Duke of York in Shakespeare's Richard III
• 1880: Appeared on New York stage for the first time, in Fritz, Our German Cousin
• 1882: Married LeGrand White (divorced 1888)
• 1890: Married Harrison Grey Fiske
• 1894, Feb. 15: First appearance in Henrick Ibsen's A Doll's House
• 1897, Mar. 2: First appearance in Tess of the D'Urbervilles
• 1899, Sept. 4: First appearance in Becky Sharp
• 1901 - 1907 : Co-managed Manhattan Theater with Harrison Grey Fiske
• 1903: First appearance in Hedda Gabler
• 1908, Nov. 12: First appearance in Salvation Nell
• 1912 - 1913 : Campaigned for legislation forbidding importation of aigrette plumes
• 1925: Honored in Washington, D. C., as advocate for animal welfare
• 1927: Awarded honorary D.Lit., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
• 1931, Nov. 7: Last stage performance, appearing in Against the Wind in Chicago, Ill.
• 1932, Feb. 14 (15?): Died, Hollis, Long Island, N.Y.

Harrison Grey Fiske

• 1861, July 30: Born, Harrison, N.Y.
• 1879: Editor, New York Dramatic Mirror
• 1882: Assisted in establishing the Actor's Fund, a charitable organization providing social and health services to actors in need
• 1890: Married Minnie Maddern
• 1893 - 1931 : Managed acting career of Minnie Maddern Fiske and other leading actors
• 1901 - 1907 : Operated the Manhattan Theater, New York, N.Y., to provide a stage for productions independent of Charles Frohman's theatrical syndicate
• 1908 - 1932 : Produced, arranged, and staged plays
• 1911: Sold New York Dramatic Mirror
• 1914: Declared bankruptcy
• 1942, Sept. 3: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Minnie Maddern Fiske and Harrison Grey Fiske Papers, 1818-1955, (bulk 1884-1932), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)