Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Rare Books
Memories and impressions of Helena Modjeska : an autobiography ; illustrated
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Rare Books
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
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Manuscripts
A brief one-page letter from Polish-American stage actress Helena Modjeska asking if "Tina" and "Juan" will be accepting her invitation (autograph letter signed).
mssHM 22052
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Manuscripts
This is a Gamut Club March Fourth 1908 program featuring a photograph of Helena Modjeska; it includes her signature. On verso is a stamp of "Sir Henry Heyman" with his address. Also a note by him: "To Mrs. John (?) Walker from her friend Sir Henry."
mssHM 82392
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Manuscripts
Two personal letters written by Polish-American stage actress Helena Modjeska to her friend Jeanne C. Smith Carr in Pasadena, California. The letters consist of a 1888 November 26 letter, written from El Toro, California, declining an invitation and referencing their past visits (3 pages, autograph letter signed, with envelope) (HM 44790), and a 1889 November 30 letter, written from the Broadway Theatre, New York City, discussing Carr's request to write a biographical sketch of Modjeska; Modjeska's role as Lady Macbeth, her feelings about performing roles from Shakespeare, and her stage fright (6 pages, autograph letter signed), with clipping "'Macbeth' at the Broadway" (HM 44791)
mssHM 44790-HM 44791
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Manuscripts
Letter written in Polish from Zakopane, Poland, with photograph of man with three children at lake.
mssModjeska
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Manuscripts
This collection contains correspondence, photographs, and ephemera of Polish-American actress Helena Modjeska and members of the family of Ludwik Opid, dating from 1869 to 1982. Though not biologically related to the Opids, Modjeska referred to them as family. The bulk of the materials consists of correspondence, in Polish, between members of the Opid family in Poland and Ludwik Opid in Los Angeles, California, dating from the 1910s to 1940s. While most of the materials post-date Modjeska's death in 1909, there are some materials created by or related to Modjeska including two handwritten actor's sides for two plays Modjeska starred in the mid 1880s and 17 letters by Modjeska, dated 1902-1909. There are also photographs of her Southern California homes and portraits of her, as well as 31 theater-related fabric and crepe sashes, chiefly with Polish lettering and dating from the 1890s to early 1900s. These sashes presumably were presented to Modjeska in towns where she was performing. The correspondence chiefly consists of letters from Opid family members to Ludwik Opid in Polish; the largest group is a set of 98 letters from Marianna Popielecka to her brother Ludwik (1912-1949). Correspondence to Ludwik also includes: 5 letters from Helena Gocowa (1923, 1946-1947); 10 letters from his younger sister Helena (Opid) Kozutska (1912, 1946-1948); 8 letters from his brother Adam Opid (1914, 1928-1930); 2 letters from his nephew Adolf Opid (1931-1932); 1 letter from his brother Bolesław Opid (1906); 1 postcard from his son, John Opid, and daughter-in-law Eleanor Opid (1926); and 6 letters from his mother Kunegunda Opid (approximately 1900s-1910s?). Within the correspondence series, there are also 2 letters from Modeska's husband Karol Chłapowski (Count Bozenta) (1908 and 1911); 1 letter from J. Kruszyńska (1888); 1 postcard possibly from Ralph Modjeska (1905); 1 letter from Mary Opid to Stefeni (1899); and 11 letters and 1 document by Ludwik's father, Adolf Opid, including letters to Helena Modjeska (1869-1870s and undated) and letters to his mother, Jozefa Bendow. There are 75 photographs in the collection chiefly consisting of snapshot photographs of the Opid family, both in Poland and California, as well as 14 images of "Arden," Modjeska's estate, near Santa Ana, California and 6 portrait photographs of Modjeska at various ages. There are also newspaper clippings about Modjeska both from Polish and Los Angeles newspapers, some later pieces of ephemera, correspondence, and printed items related to the history of Helena Modjeska.
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Manuscripts
10 letters to Caroline M. Seymour (Caroline Maria Seymour) Severance, 1820-1914.
mssSeverance
mssModjeska