Title: Renee Harris Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1904-1970

Creator:

• Harris, Renee, 1876-1969

Call Number: U.S. Mss 127AN; PH 4031

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 100 photographs and postcards

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society Archives / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
Contact Information

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of New York's first female theatrical producer, including business correspondence, legal documents, files on her ownership of the Hudson Theatre, materials relating to the Titanic on which her husband lost his life, poetry, plays, articles, short stories and other writings by Mrs. Harris, biographical material, and photographs and postcards.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0127an

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Renee Harris, New York's first female producer, was born in 1876. Early in her life she worked as a legal secretary and attended law school at night. It was there that she met Henry B. Harris, who was to become one of Broadway's most successful producers, and they were married in 1899. Renee Harris became involved in the theater through her husband: she read plays for him, attended rehearsals, and generally acquired knowledge of all aspects of production.

In 1912 the Harrises boarded the ill-fated ship, the Titanic, for a trip to Europe. In the Atlantic the ship struck an iceberg, and there were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers. Renee Harris was on the last lifeboat to leave the ship; her husband remained behind. Walter Lord's book on the horrendous accident, A Night to Remember, drew extensively on Renee Harris' memories.

After the grief of her husband's death had subsided, Mrs. Harris determined to carry on in his footsteps. She also had to repay the hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt that Henry had accumulated. This she did by producing plays and running the Hudson Theatre, which her late husband owned. Her first, and probably most famous, production was Damaged Goods (1913) with Richard Bennett. Considered extremely daring for those times, it dealt with the effects of syphilis.

Through the rest of the decade and into the twenties she continued to produce, and through her both Barbara Stanwyck and Judith Anderson got their starts on Broadway.

Late in the 1920s Renee Harris received an offer to sell the Hudson Theatre; she refused, thinking the price was not high enough. But when the Depression came, a bank foreclosed on the mortgage while she was in Europe. Hurrying home, she sold her homes, her car, and her yacht trying to save the theater. It was to no avail. She lost everything and was reduced to near poverty.

She did not lose her spirit, however. For the following years of her life she worked, earned money, and wrote articles. She married again but, in a famous remark attributed to her, she said, “I married four times, all told, but I really had one husband--Henry.” Mrs. Harris was writing her autobiography at the time of her death in 1969.

Within the one box of Renee Harris Papers, 1904-1970, the folders have been arranged chronologically within each of the following categories: biographical information, correspondence, Titanic experience, the Hudson Theatre, and writings.

Twenty-five postcards and 75 photographs include images of Renee Harris, Henry B. Harris, the Wallach family, and friends and acquaintances; the Hudson Theatre; Titanic lifeboats and survivors; and travel scenes. A few of the postcards are scatological.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Ann Bernhardt, New York, New York, and Mrs. Frederick Burton, New York, New York, February 1, 1971.

Processing Information

Processed by Lindsay Nauen, October 1972.

U.S. Mss 127AN	Biographical Information
Box   1 Folder   1	Henry B. Harris, 1909-1912, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Renee Harris, 1967-1969, undated
Box   1 Folder   3	Clippings, Renee Harris, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Memorabilia, 1903-1952
Box   1 Folder   5	Correspondence, 1904-1969
Box   1 Folder   6	Titanic Memorabilia, circa 1912
Box   1 Folder   7	Clippings, re Titanic, 1912, 1958, 1964, undated
Box   1 Folder   8	Titanic Enthusiasts of America, 1963-1966
Box   1 Folder   9	Titanic Commutator, 1963-1969
Box   1 Folder   10	Hudson Theatre, legal material and programs, 1917-1927
	Writings
Box   1 Folder   11	“Her Husband Went Down with the Titanic,” 1932
Box   1 Folder   12	Animalphabet, children's book draft and correspondence, 1932-1934, 1970
Box   1 Folder   13	“Letters Tied with Blue Ribbon,” circa 1957
Box   1 Folder   14	Autobiography, notes, and correspondence, 1950-1966, undated
Box   1 Folder   15	“Why Are You Superstitious?” radio program, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	Plays, undated
Box   1 Folder   17	Poetry, 1928-1969, undated
Box   1 Folder   18	Miscellaneous, 1950, undated
PH 4031	Postcards and Photographs