Archives West Finding Aid
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Prior and Norris photograph and ephemera collection, 1886-1915
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Prior and Norris photograph and ephemera collection
- Dates
- 1886-1915 (inclusive)18861915
- Quantity
- 223 photographic prints and 14 ephemeral items in 4 boxes
- Collection Number
- PH0583
- Summary
- Prior and Norris vaudeville troupe photographs and ephemera; also, other turn-of-the-century American vaudeville performers and stage productions.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Pat Prior and his wife/partner Effie May Norris formed the vaudeville team of the Priors and later, with their daughter as the third member, were known as the Prior Trio. The couple spent the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century touring around the United States performing on the vaudeville circuits.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
From its humble beginnings in the music hall and barroom shows of the mid 1800s, vaudeville, a collection of variety acts consisting of songs, dances, acrobatic, and other novelty performances, became one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the United States from the turn of the century until the 1930s. By 1919, there were reported to be more than 900 vaudeville theaters across the country, each playing as many as eight or nine acts per day. The industry employed thousands of individuals at any given time. For most of these performers, it was not any easy life. Poor pay, coupled with the pressures of itinerant life, produced an industry whose turnover rate was as high as 70% per year. Although the majority of these performers remained obscure, many successful comedians began their careers by playing the vaudeville circuits, including W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, and the Marx Brothers.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of three parts. The first component of the collection includes photographs and ephemera relating to the career of Pat Prior and Effie Norris, and documents their life on the road while performing on the American vaudeville circuits around the turn of the century. The second part includes photographs of vaudeville stage productions, the most significant being of Fanchon and Marco productions. The third part of the collection consists of photographs of primarily vaudeville performers and vaudeville acts of the late 1800s and early 1900, including Eddie Foy and "the world's greatest finger whistler." Many of these were friends of Prior and Norris. Also included are performer postcards, which were used for publicity.
This collection contains images that depict racist and derogatory behavior. Even as the University of Washington and University Libraries condemn them, we have not edited, redacted, excised or otherwise altered these pages, no matter how shocking or offensive they may be. They reflect shameful and regrettable aspects of our nation's history, but remain included as part of an honest presentation of that history and of the primary source material. These offensive words and images also demonstrate what the members of our nation subjected to such discrimination faced in their daily lives, as well as serving as a reminder that the struggle for equity continues today.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the digital version of the collection.
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Prior and Norris Vaudeville TroupeReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 | ||
1/1 | 2 |
Pat Prior and Effie Norris Rembrandt Studio,
Minneapolis (photographer)
|
|
1-2 | 3-5 | ||
1/2 | 6 | 1899 | |
1/2 | 7-8 |
Effie Norris Rembrandt Studio,
Minneapolis (photographer)
|
|
1/3 | 9-11 |
Effie Norris and Howard Shipman
Contains images of Howard Shipman in blackface.
|
|
1/3 | 12 | ||
1/4 | 13-14 | ||
1/5 | 15-16 | ||
1/5 | 17 |
Daughter of Pat Prior and Effie Norris The Superior, Allegheny,
PA (photographer)
|
|
1/5 | 18 |
Prior, Norris and daughter The Superior, Allegheny,
PA (photographer)
|
|
1/6 | 19 | Coney Island Company theatrical
ticket |
Aug. 16-23, 1908 |
1/6 | 20 | ||
1/6 | 21 | Pat Prior date book |
1899-1900 |
1/6 | 22 | Effie Norris bank calendar |
1907 |
1/6 | 23 | Effie Norris memorandum |
1910-1912 |
1/6 | 24 | Prior and Norris stationery
|
|
1/6 | 25 | ||
1/6 | 26 | Malcolm-Prior Comedy Company flier
|
|
1/6 | 27 | The Twice-a-Week
Call, vol. 1, no. 30, Montgomery, WV |
Mar. 5, 1901 |
1/6 | 28 | ||
1/6 | 29 | ||
1/6 | 30 | ||
1/6 | 31 | "A Rustic Reception" comedy sketch
|
|
1/6 | 32 |
Theater Companies Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/7 | 33 | 1894 | |
1/7 | 34 |
Theater company posing onstage
Includes a performer in blackface.
|
Fanchon and Marco ProductionsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | |
1/8 | 35-41 |
Fanchon and Marco productions
Harry Wenger,
L.A. (photographer)
|
1/8 | 42-45 |
Miscellaneous Stage Productions Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | |
1/9 | 46 | |
1/9 | 47 |
Vaudeville rifle act Austin Studio, 6278
Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA (photographer)
|
1/9 | 48 | |
1/9 | 49 |
Actors/ActressesReturn to Top
Primarily vaudeville entertainers.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
2/1 | 50 |
Maclyn Abernathy Theo C. Marceau, 826
Market Street, Phelan Bldg., San Francisco, CA (photographer)
|
1894 |
2/1 | 51 |
Grace Arnold Baker Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
Aug. 23, 1910 |
2/1 | 52 | ||
2/2 | 53 | ||
2/2 | 54 | 1905 | |
2/2 | 55 | 1900 | |
2/3 | 56 | Oct. 20, 1909 | |
2/3 | 57 | ||
2/4 | 58 | ||
2/4 | 59 |
W.J. Carleton Elite, 838 Market
Street, San Francisco, CA (photographer)
|
1886 |
2/4 | 60 | 1910 | |
2/4 | 61 |
Tommie and Josie Chase, Butte,
MT Elite Studio, Butte,
MT (photographer)
|
Mar. 2, 1904 |
2/4 | 62 | 1903 | |
2/5 | 63 |
Frederick Conger Ryder, 332 South Salina
Street, Syracuse, NY (photographer)
|
1889 |
2/5 | 64 |
Augustus Cook Marceau, 826 Market
Street, San Francisco, CA (photographer)
|
Nov. 5, 1896 |
2/5 | 65 | 1903 | |
2/5 | 66 |
Corinne Newboy (photographer)
|
1896 |
2/5 | 67 |
Cora Youngblood
Corson Miller Studio, Peoria,
IL (photographer)
|
Feb. 22, 1915 |
2/5 | 68 | 1900 | |
2/5 | 69 |
P. Henry
Crosby Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
1906 |
2/6 | 70 | ||
2/6 | 71 |
Juliette De
Grignan, Chicago, IL Spamer & Spier Fine Photos, 2312 Third Avenue, New York, NY (photographer)
|
1888 |
2/6 | 72 |
Fred De Nor,
Chicago, IL Mac Millan,
Prophetstown (photographer)
|
1886 |
2/7 | 73 |
John
Donohue Feinberg, 16 West 14th
Street, New York, NY (photographer)
|
1891-1892 |
2/7 | 74 |
Marget
Drew James Bushnell, Arcade
Bldg. 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA (photographer)
|
|
2/7 | 75 |
Robert
Drociet Baker, Columbus,
OH (photographer)
|
Aug. 3, 1897 |
2/7 | 76 |
Adele Farrington
Dunn Wynn & Burridge,
Detroit, MI (photographer)
|
1887 |
2/8 | 77 |
Grant and Gertie
Du Vells J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati,
OH (photographer)
|
|
2/8 | 78 |
Gertie Du
Vells J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati,
OH (photographer)
|
|
2/8 | 79 |
Grant Du
Vells J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati,
OH (photographer)
|
|
2/9 | 80 | ||
2/9 | 81 |
William
Elmer Martin, Chicago,
IL (photographer)
|
|
2/9 | 82 | Jan. 1905 | |
2/10 | 83-84 | 1888-1889 | |
2/11 | 85 |
A.
Field Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
|
2/11 | 86 | 1901 | |
2/11 | 87 | ||
2/11 | 88 | ||
2/12 | 89 |
Eddie
Foy Robinson & Roe Company, Chicago, IL (photographer)
|
|
2/12 | 90 |
Eddie Foy
Robinson & Roe Company, Chicago, IL (photographer)
|
|
4/2 | 91 |
Eddie Foy and
Pat Prior Harrison, Chicago,
IL (photographer)
|
|
2/13 | 92 | ||
2/13 | 93 |
Mr. and Mrs. E.
Girard Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
1900 |
2/13 | 94 |
S.S. Goodwin,
Chicago, IL Alex Holmes, St. Paul,
MN (photographer)
|
Summer, 1887 |
2/13 | 95 | Irene and George
Gracy |
1887 |
2/13 | 96 |
"The world's
greatest finger whistler" Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
Dec. 17, 1896 |
2/14 | 97 | ||
2/14 | 98 | ||
2/15 | 99 |
Lee
Harrison Hall (photographer)
|
1906 |
2/16 | 100-101 |
Baby Lillie
Havre, St. Paul, MN Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
1900 |
2/17 | 102 | May 2, 1902 | |
2/17 | 103 | Jessie
Herford |
|
2/18 | 104 | Bob and May
Hewlet |
|
2/19 | 105 |
Charles H.
Hopper Falk (photographer)
|
1900 |
2/19 | 106 | 1904 | |
2/20 | 107 |
Izetta
Jewell [Davies?] (photographer)
|
Mar. 21, 1908 |
2/20 | 108 |
Frank Jones, St.
Paul, MN Elite-Jones & Lotz,
San Francisco, CA (photographer)
|
1900 |
2/21 | 109 | 1898 | |
2/21 | 110 | 1900 | |
2/21 | 111 |
Jake
Kilrain Frank Wendt, Boonton,
NJ (photographer)
|
|
2/22 | 112 | ||
2/22 | 113 | 1887 | |
2/22 | 114a | Bessie King
publicity postcard Based on #114b.
|
|
2/22 | 115a |
Bessie King as
"Black Patti," publicity postcard Based on #115b.
|
|
4/3 | 114b |
Bessie King
Post, Denver,
CO (photographer)
|
|
4/3 | 115b | Bessie King as
"Black Patti" Post, Denver,
CO (photographer)
|
|
4/3 | 116 |
Bessie King
Post, Denver,
CO (photographer)
|
1898 |
4/3 | 117 |
Bessie King
Post, Denver, CO
(photographer)
|
|
2/23 | 118 | ||
2/23 | 119 |
La Reno, "aerial
novelty contortionist" De Haven, Chicago,
IL (photographer)
|
|
2/23 | 120 |
Lillian
Lawrence, St. Paul, MN Elite-Jones & Lotz,
San Francisco, CA (photographer)
|
1887 |
2/24 | 121 | 1903 | |
2/24 | 122-123 | ||
2/25 | 124-125 | ||
2/25 | 126 |
Henry Leving,
St. Paul, MN Thayer, Austin,
IL (photographer)
|
1886 |
2/26 | 127 |
[Illegible]
Lewis Johnson, Salt Lake,
UT (photographer)
|
|
2/26 | 128 | ||
2/27 | 129-131 |
Fashion
photographs Libby (photographer)
|
1904 |
2/28 | 132 |
Lolita Mather,
Billings, MT Britain, Kalispell,
MT (photographer)
|
Nov. 21, 1903 |
2/28 | 133 |
O.B.
Mayer J.C. Walker,
Woodstock (photographer)
|
Apr. 1896 |
2/28 | 134 |
McIntyre and
Heath Bushnell, San Francisco,
Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Portland (photographer)
|
|
2/28 | 135 | 1908 | |
2/28 | 136 |
Phil
McFarland Elite, San Francisco,
CA (photographer)
|
|
2/28 | 137 | 1906 | |
2/28 | 138 |
Laura Millard,
St. Paul, MN Stein, Milwaukee,
WI (photographer)
|
1889 |
2/29 | 139 |
Mary
Molloy Arax Photo Studios,
Pittsfield, MA; Albany, NY; Poughkeepsie, NY; Syracuse, NY; Schenectady, NY;
North Adams, MA (photographer)
|
|
2/29 | 140 | 1900 | |
2/29 | 141 | ||
2/29 | 142 |
George Morton,
Chicago, IL Jos. Kirsch (photographer)
|
Summer, 1894 |
2/30 | 143 | 1900 | |
2/30 | 144 | 1900 | |
2/31 | 145 | ||
2/31 | 146 |
The Murry
Twins Scholl Theatrical Photographer, Chicago, IL (photographer)
|
|
2/32 | 147 | ||
2/32 | 148 | 1903 | |
4/4 | 149 |
Aileen Nichols
Tippet, Billings,
MT (photographer)
|
|
2/32 | 150 |
Nellie
Nichols White (photographer)
|
Mar. 1910 |
2/32 | 151 |
Jennie
Norelli Rood, Chicago,
IL (photographer)
|
Sept. 1911 |
2/33 | 152 | ||
2/33 | 153 | 1888 | |
2/33 | 154 | 1902 | |
2/34 | 155 | ||
2/34 | 156 | ||
2/34 | 157 |
Frank
Pereze 2 copies.
|
|
2/34 | 158 |
Annie
Pixley Campbell, New York,
NY (photographer)
|
|
3/1 | 159 | ||
3/1 | 160 |
Roland
Reed [Kor?], San Francisco,
CA (photographer)
|
1894 |
3/1 | 161 |
Charles
Renwick Shepherd Photo Company,
St. Paul, MN (photographer)
|
|
3/2 | 162 | Apr. 19, 1901 | |
3/2 | 163 | ||
3/3 | 164-165 | ||
3/3 | 166 | ||
3/3 | 167 |
Pug Reynolds,
Owensboro, KY Fite's, Owensboro,
KY (photographer)
|
Jan. 1902 |
3/3 | 168 |
Pug Reynolds (in
blackface) and Feldman Fite's, Owensboro,
KY (photographer)
|
|
3/3 | 169 | ||
3/4 | 170 |
Rhea as "Nell
Gwynne" Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
|
3/4 | 171 | ||
3/4 | 172 | ||
3/5 | 173-174 | ||
3/5 | 175 | ||
4/5 | 176 | Summer, 1905 | |
3/6 | 177 | Isadore Rush,
Chicago, IL |
Summer, 1888 |
3/7 | 178 |
Alexander
Salvini [Billsmeth?], Denver,
CO (photographer)
|
1900 |
3/7 | 179 |
The
Schmaltzs Feinberg, New York,
NY (photographer)
|
Nov. 10, 1895 |
3/7 | 180 | ||
3/8 | 181 | Carrie Scott,
St. Paul, MN |
1900 |
3/8 | 182 | ||
3/9 | 183 |
Cheridah
Simpson, St. Paul, MN San Francisco, CA
|
May 1, 1887 |
3/9 | 184 |
Arthur Stanford,
Kansas City, MO Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
Jan. 19, 1897 |
3/9 | 185 | ||
4/6 | 186 | ||
4/6 | 187 |
Harry
Steele Peterson, New York,
NY (photographer)
|
|
3/10 | 188 | ||
3/10 | 189 | ||
3/11 | 190 |
The Venetian
Lady Troubadours Schumacher Photo, Los
Angeles, CA (photographer)
|
|
3/11 | 191 | ca. 1902 | |
3/12 | 192 |
Walter
Walker Klein & Guttenstein,
Milwaukee, WI (photographer)
|
|
3/12 | 193 |
Affie Warner
Martin, Chicago,
IL (photographer)
|
1893-1894 |
3/12 | 194 |
May V.
Warren Baker's Art Gallery,
Columbus, OH (photographer)
|
|
3/12 | 195 |
Frank
Weston [Hans?], San Francisco,
CA (photographer)
|
1913 |
3/13 | 196 |
Frank H. While
in blackface R. Pennie Smith, Newark,
NJ; Asbury Park, NJ (photographer)
|
|
3/13 | 197 |
George W. Wilson
as "Uncle Josh" Elite, San Francisco,
CA (photographer)
|
1888 |
3/13 | 198 |
Julius P.
Witmark, St. Paul, MN Loveday & Von der Heide, Chicago, IL (photographer)
|
Dec. 13, 1894 |
3/14 | 199-200 | ||
3/15 | 201-211 |
Portraits of
unknown couples and groups Image 203 shows performers in blackface.
|
|
3/16 | 212-227 | ||
4/7 | 228 | ||
3/17 | 229-237 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Actors--Photographs
- Actresses--Photographs
- Burlesque (Theater)--United States
- Comedians--Photographs
- Dancers--Photographs
- Entertainers--United States--Photographs
- Ethnic groups--Caricatures and cartoons
- Irish Americans--Caricatures and cartoons
- Singers--Photographs
- Theatrical productions
- Vaudeville--United States
- Women entertainers--United States--Photographs
Personal Names
- Foy, Eddie, 1856-1928--Photographs
- King, Bessie--Photographs
- Norris, Effie May--Photographs
- Prior, Pat--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Fanchon & Marco--Photographs
- Prior Trio--Photographs
- Priors (Vaudeville team)--Photographs