Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Clara Morris 1850 ~

Clara Morris

Was born March 17, 1850, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mother was a native of Ohio, and her father, of Canada. Her father died when she was quite an infant, leaving the mother to support a family of young children. Clara under-took to support herself by caring for young children in families. Mr. Ellsler, the theatrical manager, engaged her to do miscellaneous child work about his theatre when but eleven years old. She soon attracted attention by her intensity in her work and gradually climbed the ladder from her first occupation to the rank of leading lady. In 1868- 1869 she played a successful season in Cincinnati, and at its close went to New York City and accepted an offer of forty dollars a week from Augustin Daly, making her debut in that city as Anne Sylvester in "Man and Wife." She has appeared in many other of the more exacting emotional characters and in each and all she is a finished, powerful, perfect and impassioned actress. Her own sufferings, from an incurable spinal malady, have made her success all the more remarkable.

In 1874 she became the wife of Frederick C. Harriott, but always retained her maiden name, "Clara Morris," on the stage. Among her most distinct successes were "Camille," "Miss Multon" "The New Magdalen," "L'Article 47" and "Renee."

Women of America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.