Collection is open for research.
Gift of Brian Bender, February 2013 (Lib. Acc. 27847).
Herman P. Emery was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved with his parents to California when he was a child. He had a 40-year career in the theatre business, and for most of that time, beginning in the early 1890s, he worked at theaters in Portland, Oregon, including Cordray's Theatre, the Baker Theatre, the Liberty Theatre, and the Pantages Theater. He was the first stage manager of the Pantages, and was working in that role when, in 1912, he was shot by a man named Otto W. Pence, who was attempting to see an actress at the theater. Emery recovered and continued to work as stage manager for much of the rest of his life, but due to lingering effects of the injury, he instead worked at the Pantages' switchboard near the end of his career. He died in 1924 at the age of 58.
During his years in the theater business in Portland, Emery was an avid collector of pictures of performers and other famous people. After his death, his collection was the subject of a brief article in the Oregonian newspaper, which noted that he had enough pictures "to fill a huge trunk and some besides," hundreds of which were autographed.
Sources: "Enraged suitor shoots in theater," Oregonian, July 10, 1912, page 1; "Stage photos found," Oregonian, April 6, 1924; Section 2, Page 3; obituary in the Oregonian, April 1, 1924, Page 3.
H. P. Emery collection of photographs of vaudeville performers, Org. Lot 1234, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Collection guide was revised in April 2024 to provide biographical information about H. P. Emery; to retitle the collection to better reflect the materials; provide dates for each folder; and conform to current standard. The collection was previously titled "Pantages Theatre photographs collection."
This collection consists of publicity photographs of vaudeville performers, dating from 1891-1921. The photographs were collected by H. P. Emery during his decades-long career in the theater business in Portland, Oregon. Most of the images were signed by the performers, and many are inscribed to Emery. In addition to the photographs of performers, there are photographs of the theater's stage hands, two copies of a cartoon of Hickey and Nelson's "Twisted and Tangled," and a February 1915 certificate of Emery's appointment as special deputy sheriff at the theater. The collection includes multiple images of actors in blackface.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Includes photographs of: R. Abram; Lillian Andrews; Adair and Hickey; Atwood and Terry; William C. Andrews; Trio Ashton; Pete Arnesen; Alcazar.
Includes photographs of: Mme. Bartholdi; Virginia Brissac; Chas. B. Barnold; Ethel May Barker; Dot Bernard; Bedin; Ned M. Becker; Klute and King Bennet; Ashley and Barton; Jimmy Britt; Blach and Byron; Roberts and Beliveau.
Includes photographs of: Herbert Chelsey's girl; Ethel Barr Chelsey; Larry and Ansie Co.; Herbert and Co. Chelsey; Ed and Sadie Duff Crawford; J. J. Corbett; Hetty Urma Carter; Richard Clay; (The 4 Colbys) Colby; The Campbells; W. Carter; Ida Carmack.
Includes photographs of: Nat Darling; Charlotte Deane; Everson and Davey; Geo E. Delmon and William De Graaf Lee; James A. Dunn; Mabell Douglas; Mekring De Shields; Trainer Dreano.
Includes photographs of: Elliotts; Four Exposition; The Elliotts.
Includes photographs of: Julia Gifford Fitzsimmons; Famous Flying Fishers; Florenz Family; James F. Fulton; Marjorie Fletcher; Tony Florenz; Florenz Trio - Giuliani, Helene, Alfred; Ethel Forest.
Includes photographs of: Dot Girdella; Gardner and Golder; Dolly Greer; Mlle. Georgis; Revere and Gardner; Eunice May Gilman.
Includes photographs of: Montie Brooks Harris; Hilliar; Albert Hallett; Howell; T. Hardeen; Houston and Dallas; Harry Holmes; Dan Healy; Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Holcomb; Hazel Hickey.
Includes a photograph of Robert Ingersoll.
Includes photographs of: Louis James; Gloria Joy; Tony Johnson.
Includes photographs of: Francis and Keogh; Arthurs Krause; Adelaide Keith; Bros. Kalinowski; Harry G. Keenan; Kiltie Trio; Kuhn; Louisa Kent.
Includes photographs of: Tho. C. Leary; Chas. Leora; Wanda Lyon; Jules LaBarde; Bob Lawrence; Adele Ligon; Tom B. Loftus.
Includes photographs of: Miller Family; Morey and Morey; Meta Marsky; Dick Maurettus; Murray and Mack; Marion and Pearl; Pauline Marhkam; J. Mack; Carl Muller; Sisters Mullally; Katherine Marion.
Includes photographs of: McDonalds; McCoy and Knight; Robert B. McKenzie; McRobert.
Includes photographs of: Phelps Newhoff; Joe Niemeyer; D. E. Noyer and Ward Welcome.
Includes photographs of: John Austin O'Brien; Sam O'Hana.
Includes photographs of: Patricola; Perry; Phroso; Katie Putnam; Philbrooks and Reynolds; Bert Page; Perry and Sims; Geo P.
Includes photographs of: Richards Sisters; Russell and Dunbar; The 4 Rennees; Aubria Rich; C. M. Roode; J. C. Roche (Bell Trio); Florence Roberts.
Includes photographs of: Eliza Sparrow; Sutherland and C; Delia Stacey; Hubert Sappington; The Sharrocks; Arthur Silber and Eva North; Estell Sims.
Includes a photograph of Tegge and Daniel.
Includes photographs of: Venita; Gladys Van Arthur Pearce; Myrtle Victorino; Myrtle Victorino (Meryl and Reta); Myrtle Victorino and Prevue Dollars (Meryl and Reta); Victorine Sisters; Marcia Van Dresser.
Includes photographs of: Louise Walters; Wright and Brennan; Tom Weideman; Julia W.; Walsh and Ligon; Welch and Maitland; Fred Walters; Madeline Wheeler; John J. Welch; Gypsy Wilson; The Wheelers (Bert and Nellie); Bert Wiggin; Katherine Waters.
Includes photographs of: Young and Brooks; Willy Zimmerman.
Performer might be Nat Darling.
Includes 2 cartoons of Hickey and Nelson and certificate appointing H. P. Emery as special deputy sheriff at the Pantages Theatre.
Includes photographs of: Alcazar; E. J. Appleby; Bingham & Gabe; Byrne Benton and Byrne; Crawford and Duff.
Includes photographs of: Deacon Trio; Gern Comedy Four; Ella and Joe Fondiler; Paula Gl-.
Includes photographs of: Lucius Henderson; M. J. Hooley; Arthur Huston; John Lacaster; The Lemonts; Lucretia's Leopards and Lions.
Includes photographs of: Frankie Mack; Manning Trio; Malvern Family; McClare and Mason; The McShaffreys; W. Montague; Musical Thor.
Includes photographs of: O'Dell and Hart; Rennee Family; Rizol and Atina; Smith and Ellis; Mollie Thomson.
Includes photographs of: Geo. L. Wade; Weber Family.