Morris, Clara, 1848-1925

Actress and author of short stories and the books Little Jim Crow (1894), The Silent Singer (1898), and Life on the Stage (1901). Married to Frederick C. Harriott, also an actor, from 1874 until his death in 1914, Morris largely supported him, her mother, and others. Her life was often difficult because of ill health, temporary partial blindness, and lack of money.

From the description of Papers, 1899-1910 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122506692

From the description of Diaries, 1867-1924 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122592708

Clara Morris, undated

Actress Clara Morris was born in Toronto, probably 17 Mar 1847, the eldest child of a bigamous marriage. When she was three her father, whose name was La Montagne, was exposed as a bigamist and her mother moved with Clara to Cleveland, where they adopted Clara's grandmother's name, Morisson. Young Clara received only scanty schooling. In circa 1860 she became a ballet girl in the resident company of the Cleveland Academy of Music, shortening her name to Morris at that time. After nine years of training with that company she played a leading lady at Wood's Theatre in Cincinnati in 1869. She then appeared in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a summer and with Joseph Jefferson in Louisville before going to New York City in 1870. She made her New York debut in September in "Man and Wife," directed by Augustin Daly at his Fifth Avenue Theatre. The role had come to her by chance, but she made such an impression in it that Daly starred her in a series of highly emotional roles over the next three years in such plays as "No Name," "Delmonico's," "L'Article 47," "Alixe," "Jezebel," and "Madeline Morel." She left Daly in 1873 and in November of that year starred under A.M. Palmer's management in "The Wicked World" at the Union Square Theatre.

Over the next few years Morris had great successes in "Camille" in 1874, "The New Leah" in 1875, "Miss Multon" (an American version of a French version of "East Lynne"), her most popular role, in 1876, "Jane Eyre" in 1877, and "The New Magdalen" in 1882. She also toured extensively, especially in the 1880s, and everywhere mesmerized audiences with her emotional power. Although neither a great beauty nor a great artist, nor trained in elocution or stagecraft, she had an instinctive genius for portraying the impassioned and often suffering heroines of French melodrama.

The passing of the vogue for that sort of theatre, together with her uncertain health, brought her career to a close in the 1890s. In retirement in Riverdale, New York, she contributed articles on acting to various magazines, wrote a daily newspaper column for ten years, and published numerous books, including A Silent Singer, 1899; Little Jim Crow and Other Stories for Children, 1900; Life on the Stage: My Personal Experiences and Recollections, 1901; Stage Confidences, 1902; A Pasteboard Crown, 1902; The Trouble Woman, 1904 ; The Life of a Star, 1906; Left in Charge, 1907; New East Lynne, 1908; A Strange Surprise, 1910; and Dressing-Room Receptions, 1911. In 1904 she returned to the stage in a revival of "The Two Orphans," and she later appeared in vaudeville. She died in New Canaan, Connecticut, on November 20, 1925.

From the guide to the Clara Morris Papers MS 106., 1874-1901, (Sophia Smith Collection)

Actress; journalist.

Born in Toronto in 1847; Morris received only minimal schooling. She became a ballet girl in the resident company of the Cleveland Academy of Music, in 1860. After nine years of training, she played a leading lady at Wood's Theatre in Cincinnati in 1869; then appeared in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a summer and with Joseph Jefferson in Louisville before going on, in 1870, to further success in New York City. She also toured extensively, especially in the 1880s. Her acting career came to a close in the 1890s and in retirement in Riverdale, New York, she contributed articles on acting to various magazines, wrote a daily newspaper column for ten years, and published several books. In 1904 she returned to the stage in a revival of The Two Orphans, and later appeared in vaudeville. She died in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1925.

From the description of Papers, 1874-1901. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 51656774

Clara Morris (Mrs. Frederick C. Harriott) was a noted leading lady on the New York stage, called the greatest "emotional actress" of her day.

From the description of Letter and photographs of Clara Morris, 1902, n.d. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 64701160

Clara Morris was born in Toronto, Canada on March 17, 1848. She and her mother fled to Ohio later that same year when her father was discovered as a bigamist. With him they had left another daughter whom Clara later tried desperately to find.

When the diaries begin, Clara Morris has already started her acting career. She had some time earlier boarded with a family named Hefty to whom she occasionally sent money. They had lost their boarding house and were left penniless.

She married Frederick C. Harriott on November 30, 1874 and supported him from then until he started acting with her in 1892. Her mother lived with them in their first home, the Pines, in New York and in later homes in Fair Lawn, Whitestone, and Colonial Heights, New York. Most of the money she earned from acting was spent for the support of others - her mother, her husband, the Heftys and her many pets.

CM constantly suffered ill health partly due to an injury to her spine in childhood. On several occasions she was forced to miss rehearsals and performances. Usually upon arrival in a new town it was necessary to procure a doctor immediately. Her eyesight also bothered her and she went partially blind from 1910 until 1914. The only entries from this period are four in 1911. In 1914 she regained her sight.

She played several different fund benefits in the 1880's including those for the widow of a Yonkers police sergeant, the Custer Memorial Monument, and Edgar Allan and Virginia Clemm Poe's graves. She continued her acting career until 1905 after which she only made small appearances in variety shows, and gave talks and lectures. After her retirement her days were spent painting, writing, knitting, sewing, embroidering, reading, taking and giving French, Spanish and Italian lessons, and playing the guitar.

As of 1895 she had already begun to make money by writing and selling short stories and articles. In addition to these she wrote three books: Little Jim Crow, 1894, The Silent Singer, 1898, and Life on the Stage, 1901. Her husband died May 29, 1914 and her mother August 30, 1917. When she was left alone, she found it necessary to take in boarders to supplement the money she received for writing. She continued her writing until her death on November 20, 1925.

From the guide to the Diaries, 1867-1924, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)