Guide to the Prior and Norris Photograph and Ephemera Collection
1886-1915

Historical Note

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.

Scope and Content

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.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to the public.

Historical Background

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.

Acquisition Info

Source: Mark Dempsey; received June 28, 1993.

Processing Info

Separated from the Jerry Ross Collection, photograph accession 9306-20.

Inventory

Box/Folder

Item

Date

Prior and Norris Vaudeville Troupe

1/1

1

Pat Prior and Effie Norris

2

Pat Prior and Effie Norris

Photographer: Rembrandt Studio, Minneapolis

1-2

3-5

Effie Norris

1/2

6

Effie Norris

1899

Photographer: Burdett Studio, 1925 1st Avenue, Seattle

2 copies (1 oversized).

7-8

Effie Norris

Photographer: Rembrandt Studio, Minneapolis

1/3

9-11

Effie Norris and Howard Shipman

12

Howard Shipman

1/4

13-14

Pat Prior

1/5

15-16

Prior, Norris and daughter

17

Daughter of Pat Prior and Effie Norris

Photographer: The Superior, Allegheny, PA

18

Prior, Norris and daughter

Photographer: The Superior, Allegheny, PA

1/6

19

Coney Island Company theatrical ticket

Aug. 16-23, 1908

20

Effie Norris Actor's National Protective Union member's card

21

Pat Prior date book

1899-1900

22

Effie Norris bank calendar

1907

23

Effie Norris memorandum

1910-1912

24

Prior and Norris stationery

25

Effie Norris brochure

26

Malcolm-Prior Comedy Company flier

27

The Twice-a-Week Call, vol. 1, no. 30, Montgomery, WV

Mar. 5, 1901

28

Orpheum Theatre salary statement

29

"Neighbors for Twenty-Five Years" sketch

30

The Family Theatre Company salary statement

31

"A Rustic Reception" comedy sketch

32

Prior and Norris brochure

Box/Folder

Item

Date

Theater Companies

1/7

33

The Giffen-Neill Company

1894

34

Theater company posing onstage

Box/Folder

Item

Fanchon and Marco Productions

1/8

35-41

Fanchon and Marco productions

Photographer: Harry Wenger, L.A.

42-45

Fanchon and Marco productions

Box/Folder

Item

Miscellaneous Stage Productions

1/9

46

Movie still recreating vaudeville show

47

Vaudeville rifle act

Photographer: Austin Studio, 6278 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA

48

Saul Grauman Company on stage

49

"Picturesque ensemble scene"

Box/Folder

Item

Date

Actors/Actresses

Primarily vaudeville entertainers.

2/1

50

Maclyn Abernathy

1894

Photographer: Theo C. Marceau, 826 Market Street, Phelan Bldg., San Francisco, CA

51

Grace Arnold

Aug. 23, 1910

Photographer: Baker Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

52

Little Ashley

2/2

53

Frederick Bancroft

Photographer: Falk, N.Y.

2 copies.

54

Nina Beason

1905

55

Belle Bozelle

1900

2/3

56

Ed Browning postcard

Oct. 20, 1909

57

Ed Browning

2/4

58

Frantz Caesar with Helen Lewis & Company

59

W.J. Carleton

1886

Photographer: Elite, 838 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

60

Cashman, St.Paul, MN

1910

61

Tommie and Josie Chase, Butte, MT

Mar. 2, 1904

Photographer: Elite Studio, Butte, MT

62

The Cliffords, Seattle, WA

1903

2/5

63

Frederick Conger

1889

Photographer: Ryder, 332 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY

64

Augustus Cook

Nov. 5, 1896

Photographer: Marceau, 826 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

65

Marie Cooper, Billings, MT

1903

66

Corinne

1896

Photographer: Newboy

67

Cora Youngblood Corson

Feb. 22, 1915

Photographer: Miller Studio, Peoria, IL

68

Morell Costello

1900

69

P. Henry Crosby

1906

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

2/6

70

Pat Dalton and Alice Teffie

71

Juliette De Grignan, Chicago, IL

1888

Photographer: Spamer & Spier Fine Photos, 2312 Third Avenue, New York, NY

72

Fred De Nor, Chicago, IL

1886

Photographer: Mac Millan, Prophetstown

2/7

73

John Donohue

1891-1892

Photographer: Feinberg, 16 West 14th Street, New York, NY

74

Marget Drew

Photographer: James Bushnell, Arcade Bldg. 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA

75

Robert Drociet

Aug. 3, 1897

Photographer: Baker, Columbus, OH

76

Adele Farrington Dunn

1887

Photographer: Wynn & Burridge, Detroit, MI

2/8

77

Grant and Gertie Du Vells

Photographer: J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati, OH

78

Gertie Du Vells

Photographer: J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati, OH

79

Grant Du Vells

Photographer: J.N. Krieg, Cincinnati, OH

2/9

80

Eddie

81

William Elmer

Photographer: Martin, Chicago, IL

82

Errol and Trainor, Aberdeen, WA

Jan. 1905

2/10

83-84

Edgar Ely as "The Dude," Minneapolis, MN

1888-1889

2/11

85

A. Field

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

86

A. Filmore, Louisville, KY

1901

87

Barney First

88

Fannie [Flois?]

2/12

89

Eddie Foy

Photographer: Robinson & Roe Company, Chicago, IL

90

Eddie Foy

Photographer: Robinson & Roe Company, Chicago, IL

4/2

91

Eddie Foy and Pat Prior

Photographer: Harrison, Chicago, IL

2/13

92

George and Lillie Gardner

93

Mr. and Mrs. E. Girard

1900

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

94

S.S. Goodwin, Chicago, IL

Summer, 1887

Photographer: Alex Holmes, St. Paul, MN

95

Irene and George Gracy

1887

96

"The world's greatest finger whistler"

Dec. 17, 1896

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

2/14

97

Frank Gates

98

Waldo, De Vere and Gates

2/15

99

Lee Harrison

1906

Photographer: Hall

2/16

100-101

Baby Lillie Havre, St. Paul, MN

1900

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

2/17

102

Jessie Herford

May 2, 1902

103

Jessie Herford

2/18

104

Bob and May Hewlet

2/19

105

Charles H. Hopper

1900

Photographer: Falk

106

Stella Howard, Billings, MT

1904

2/20

107

Izetta Jewell

Mar. 21, 1908

Photographer: [Davies?]

108

Frank Jones, St. Paul, MN

1900

Photographer: Elite-Jones & Lotz, San Francisco, CA

2/21

109

Sally Kearns, Chillicothe, OH

1898

110

Sadie Kennedy, Minneapolis, MN

1900

111

Jake Kilrain

Photographer: Frank Wendt, Boonton, NJ

2/22

112

Frank and Bessie King

113

Bessie King, St. Paul, MN

1887

114a

Bessie King publicity postcard

Based on #114b.

115a

Bessie King as "Black Patti," publicity postcard

Based on #115b.

4/3

114b

Bessie King

Photographer: Post, Denver, CO

115b

Bessie King as "Black Patti"

Photographer: Post, Denver, CO

116

Bessie King

1898

Photographer: Post, Denver, CO

117

Bessie King

Photographer: Post, Denver, CO

2/23

118

Flossie La Field

119

La Reno, "aerial novelty contortionist"

Photographer: De Haven, Chicago, IL

120

Lillian Lawrence, St. Paul, MN

1887

Photographer: Elite-Jones & Lotz, San Francisco, CA

2/24

121

Marjorie Lake

1903

122-123

Marjorie Lake

2/25

124-125

Leonard and Phillips fliers

126

Henry Leving, St. Paul, MN

1886

Photographer: Thayer, Austin, IL

2/26

127

[Illegible] Lewis

Photographer: Johnson, Salt Lake, UT

128

Harry Lines

2/27

129-131

Fashion photographs

1904

Photographer: Libby

2/28

132

Lolita Mather, Billings, MT

Nov. 21, 1903

Photographer: Britain, Kalispell, MT

133

O.B. Mayer

Apr. 1896

Photographer: J.C. Walker, Woodstock

134

McIntyre and Heath

Photographer: Bushnell, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Portland

135

Isabel McFadger

1908

136

Phil McFarland

Photographer: Elite, San Francisco, CA

137

McSorley and Elinore, Billings, MT

1906

138

Laura Millard, St. Paul, MN

1889

Photographer: Stein, Milwaukee, WI

2/29

139

Mary Molloy

Photographer: Arax Photo Studios, Pittsfield, MA; Albany, NY; Poughkeepsie, NY; Syracuse, NY; Schenectady, NY; North Adams, MA

140

Louisa Allen Morris, Chillicothe, OH

1900

141

E.J. Mortimer

142

George Morton, Chicago, IL

Summer, 1894

Photographer: Jos. Kirsch

2/30

143

Hugh Morris

1900

144

Hugh and Alene Morris

1900

2/31

145

James Murphy

2/31

146

The Murry Twins

Photographer: Scholl Theatrical Photographer, Chicago, IL

2/32

147

Jon Neff

148

Aileen Nichols, Billings, MT

1903

4/4

149

Aileen Nichols

Photographer: Tippet, Billings, MT

2/32

150

Nellie Nichols

Mar. 1910

Photographer: White

151

Jennie Norelli

Sept. 1911

Photographer: Rood, Chicago, IL

2/33

152

Edmund L. O' Conner

153

Harry and May O'Dell

1888

154

Sena Ownes [Owens ?], Jacksonville, FL

1902

2/34

155

William and Lillian Parrott

156

Jennie Pearson

157

Frank Pereze

2 copies.

158

Annie Pixley

Photographer: Campbell, New York, NY

3/1

159

Billie and Essie Rafferty and daughter

160

Roland Reed

1894

Photographer: [Kor?], San Francisco, CA

161

Charles Renwick

Photographer: Shepherd Photo Company, St. Paul, MN

3/2

162

Denny Reno, Parkersburg, WV

Apr. 19, 1901

163

The Three Renos

3/3

164-165

Irene Gracie

166

Pug Reynolds

167

Pug Reynolds, Owensboro, KY

Jan. 1902

Photographer: Fite's, Owensboro, KY

168

Pug Reynolds and Feldman

Photographer: Fite's, Owensboro, KY

169

Reynolds and Gracie flier: "Exponents of Ethiopian Eccentricities"

3/4

170

Rhea as "Nell Gwynne"

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

171

Ray Richards

172

Pat Roberts

3/5

173-174

Leona and Pearl Roberts

175

The Four Roberts

4/5

176

The Four Roberts, San Francisco, CA

Summer, 1905

3/6

177

Isadore Rush, Chicago, IL

Summer, 1888

3/7

178

Alexander Salvini

1900

Photographer: [Billsmeth?], Denver, CO

179

The Schmaltzs

Nov. 10, 1895

Photographer: Feinberg, New York, NY

180

Anna Scott

3/8

181

Carrie Scott, St. Paul, MN

1900

182

Carrie Scott

3/9

183

Cheridah Simpson, St. Paul, MN

May 1, 1887

184

Arthur Stanford, Kansas City, MO

Jan. 19, 1897

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

185

Archie Stanley

4/6

186

Archie Stanley

187

Harry Steele

Photographer: Peterson, New York, NY

3/10

188

Trixie Taylor

189

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Tracy

3/11

190

The Venetian Lady Troubadours

Photographer: Schumacher Photo, Los Angeles, CA

191

Baby Virginia

ca. 1902

3/12

192

Walter Walker

Photographer: Klein & Guttenstein, Milwaukee, WI

193

Affie Warner

1893-1894

Photographer: Martin, Chicago, IL

194

May V. Warren

Photographer: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, OH

195

Frank Weston

1913

Photographer: [Hans?], San Francisco, CA

3/13

196

Frank H. While

Photographer: R. Pennie Smith, Newark, NJ; Asbury Park, NJ

197

George W. Wilson as "Uncle Josh"

1888

Photographer: Elite, San Francisco, CA

198

Julius P. Witmark, St. Paul, MN

Dec. 13, 1894

Photographer: Loveday & Von der Heide, Chicago, IL

3/14

199-200

Florence Zellar

3/15

201-211

Portraits of unknown couples and groups

3/16

212-227

Portraits of unknown females

4/7

228

Woman

3/17

229-237

Portraits of unknown males

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Foy, Eddie, 1856-1928--Photographs.

King, Bessie--Photographs.

Norris, Effie May--Photographs.

Prior, Pat--Photographs.

Organizations:

Fanchon & Marco--Photographs.

Prior Trio--Photographs.

Priors (Vaudeville team)--Photographs.

Subjects:

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.

Genre Headings:

Postcards.

Printed ephemera.

Publicity photographs.