Henrietta Alice McCrae-Metcalf Collection of Performer Memorabilia

Collection

Identifier: D-mss-1001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of fifteen total items and is divided into four series organized by medium and content. Series 1 holds printed textual materials related to Eva Le Galienne, an autobiographical pamphlet detailing the performer’s career, and a production program. Series 2 contains studio-produced headshots and character shots of Eva Le Gallienne. Series 3 contains mounted photographs of Eva Le Gallienne. Three items in this series are the disassembled materials which were previously bound in one frame. The last item is a composite of seven images of Le Gallienne with her dogs. Series 4 holds two photographic prints related to actress Maria Valente.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within ca. 1921-1939

Biographical / Historical

Henrietta Alice Metcalf (née McCrae, 1888-1981) was born to an affluent Chicago family and received her early education in Paris, France. Metcalf was a lifelong champion of the performing arts and amassed a vast collection of memorabilia related to actors and actresses, much of which is inscribed with signatures and personal messages from the performers. Metcalf also worked as an editor and French-English translator of dramatic texts, and produced translations for Eva Le Gallienne.

Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991) was a London-born American stage actress and founder of the Civic Repertory Theatre, a forerunner to New York’s off-broadway. She was active both on stage and behind the scenes as a producer, director, translator, and author. The personal nature and quantity of messages written by Eva Le Gallienne on items in Metcalf’s collection indicate an intimate relationship between the two women.

Maria Valente (née Siri, 1897-1977) was an Italian-born performer active across Europe, Russia, and the United States. She was a polymath of the performing arts playing 33 instruments, in addition to singing, dancing, and acting.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Henrietta Alice McCrae-Metcalf Collection of Performer Memorabilia is composed of photographic prints and publications concerning 20th century actresses which were donated to the Ella Strong Denison Library in [YEAR] by Henrietta Alice Metcalf. Many of the items are inscribed with personal messages and signatures from the performers, and are dated from 1921 to 1939. The bulk of the collection is concerned with performer Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991) with the exception of two photographic prints related to actress Maria Valente.