Emma Josephine Brazier theater and opera scrapbooks, 1858-1918. Box 3: Daly's Company theater and opera scrapbook, 1883-1918.

Name:

Brazier, Emma Josephine, 1867-1953

Timespan:

20th century; 19th century

Date:

1858/1918

Description:

The Emma Josephine Brazier theater and opera scrapbooks consists of three volumes that date between 1858 and 1918. They contain playbills and advertisements from theaters and opera houses primarily in Philadelphia and New York, as well as cards and photographs of the actors and actresses that performed in them. The third scrapbook's spine reads "Dayl's Company," however, it is almost certain that it should read "Daly's Company." This volume, dating from 1883 to 1918, contains information on both opera houses and theaters in Philadelphia and New York City. Of note is the extensive information on Augustin Daly, his funeral, and the dismantling of his house. Daly, a playwright, opened a successful theater in New York City in 1879. Many of the most notable actors and actresses of the time attributed their success to Daly, including John Drew Jr., Maurice Barrymore, and Fanny Davenport. This volume contains many playbills with a penciled notation, "Daly's Company." In addition, researchers will find many photographs and a fair amount of published information on Mary Anderson, Fanny Davenport, John Drew, George Grossman, Marie Jansen, Clara Morris, Cora Potter, Ada Rehan, Vesta Tilley, and Francis Wilson. This volume includes two letters to Emma Josephine Brazier, one from Ada Rehan thanking her for flowers, and one, dated 1918, from an unidentified writer thanking her for an evening.; All three scrapbooks in the set contain playbills and advertisements from theaters and opera houses; clippings from newspapers, magazines, and theatrical publications; collectible cards from theaters; and cabinet cards (some of which are hand-colored and a few of which are signed by the actors or actresses). In many cases, information about a specific actor or actress is grouped together, so that a researcher may find photographs, clippings, biographical sketches, and even writings by actors or actresses on several adjacent pages.

Language:

English

Relation:

Finding aid: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/UPENN_RBML_PUSpMsColl1149

Subject:

Academy of Music (Philadelphia, Pa.); Arch Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.); Chestnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.); Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.); Actors; Musical theater; Opera; Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- 19th century; Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- 20th century; Theater -- United States -- 19th century; Theater -- United States -- 20th century; Theater

Form/Genre:

Manuscripts, American; Cabinet photographs; Clippings (information artifacts); Scrapbooks

Physical Description:

Box 3 of 3

Geographic Subject:

United States; Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Emma Josephine Brazier was born on August 15, 1867 to Joseph Harrison and Ellen Kemball Bartol Brazier. She, her parents, and her brother lived in Philadelphia where her father was employed by the jewelry firm, J.E. Caldwell & Co. of Philadelphia. Her brother, Henry Bartol Brazier, appears to have been an inventor of automobile components. Little is known of Emma Josephine Brazier except that she was apparently an ardent fan of theater and opera. She appears to have attended many plays and operas in Philadelphia and New York and to have followed the actors and actresses closely. She may have traveled to Europe in 1909. There is no indication that she ever married. She died in Massachusetts on November 14, 1953, at the age of 86.; Primarily in English, with some French.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Coll. 1149