Collection Summary
Sarah Bernhardt Collection
circa 1860-1977 (bulk 1880-1920)
Performing Arts Collection
PA-00170
8 document boxes, 1 scrapbook box, 3 oversize boxes (osb), 6 oversize folders (osf), 1 oversize portfolio (osp) (5.04 linear feet)
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
Bernhardt, Sarah
1844-1923
The collection contains theatrical production materials,
playscripts, translations, and theatrical performance photographs from over thirty of
Bernhardt's productions, including l'Aiglon, Camille, and Phedre. Also present are
personal photographs, postcards, clippings, a scrapbook, caricatures, advertisements, and
artistic sketches of Bernhardt.
English and
Acquisition:
Compiled by staff from Albert Davis, Robert Downing, and Messmore Kendall Collections
Access:
Open for research. Special permission from the Curator of Performing Arts, plus advance
notice, is required to access oversize posters. To make an appointment, please email Reference.
Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy
before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information
that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers
are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living
individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have
legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may
arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed
highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of
Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of
the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder
which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom
Centers' Open Access and Use Policies.
Processed by:
Nicolette Schneider, 2003
Biographical Sketch
Sarah Bernhardt, "The Divine Sarah," was born Henriette-Rosine Bernard in Paris, France, in
1844. She spent her life gracing the theatrical stages of the world with her interpretations
of both classic and modern French drama. Following her education at the drama school of the
Paris Conservatoire, Bernhardt made her theatrical debut on stage in an 1862 production of
Racine's
Iphigenie en Aulide. But it was not until her 1872
performance in Victor Hugo's Ruy Blas that she was recognized
and established as a great theatrical actress of her time.
In 1880, Bernhardt began her long series of tours throughout Europe and Americirca She
delighted audiences with her interpretations of characters in productions such as
Adrienne Lecouvreur, Frou Frou, Hernani, Jeanne D'Arc, Phedre, and Theodora, to name just a few. Bernhardt also became one of the few
female actors of the time to portray a lead male character. She did so in Hamlet and again as the Duc de Reichstadt in Rostand's l'Aiglon. She continued to tour America for the rest of her career,
even announcing three separate "farewell" tours between the years 1905-1912. Despite all of
the time she spent outside her home country, Bernhardt remained a loyal Frenchwoman. In
1914, she was presented the Legion of Honor award for her continued support of her country
and its servicemen. After battling a threatening infection in 1915, Bernhardt lost a leg to
amputation, but she still continued to pursue her love of acting and traveling. Her final
tour through America lasted from the years 1916 to 1918 and then she returned home to
France. Bernhardt continued to practice her craft until her death in 1923.
In addition to her traditional stage work, Bernhardt starred in several silent movies,
including two of her better-known films,
Queen Elizabeth and Camille in 1911. Aside from acting, Bernhardt was also known to be a
gifted artist, sculptor, and writer. She edited and translated many of the plays in which
she performed and wrote several novels. Her memoir, Ma double vie (My Double Life), originally published in 1907, is
still being reprinted today.
Sources:
Gold, Arthur.
Divine Sarah: A Life of Sarah Bernhardt. New York:
Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.
"Sarah Henriette Rosine Bernhardt" in
The Oxford Companion to the
Theatre. London: Oxford University Press, 1967.
Skinner, Cornelia Otis.
Madame Sarah. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company, 1966.
Scope and Contents
The Sarah Bernhardt Collection, circa 1860-1977 (bulk 1880-1920), contains theatrical
production photographs, personal photographs, publicity stills, postcards, theater programs
and playbills, clippings, and a scrapbook. Also present are several prints, caricatures,
advertisements, and artistic sketches of Bernhardt. The collection is arranged in three
series: I. Theater Productions, 1872-1920; II. Clippings and Scrapbook, 1879-1977; and III.
Other Materials, 1860-1920. Materials in Series I are arranged alphabetically by title of
production and then chronologically within each production; materials in Series II and
Series III are arranged chronologically where appropriate.
The Theater Production series comprises the bulk of the collection and contains production
photographs and theater playbills and programs for over thirty Bernhardt productions.
Although the bulk of the production photographs are portrait styled cabinet card
photographs, this series contains several photographs of Bernhardt performing on stage.
Bernhardt's famous productions of
l'Aiglon, Camille, and Phedre are especially well
represented. Among the playbills and programs, there are several playscripts, translations,
and other versions of plays which are specific to Bernhardt and carry her identification as
"the only correct version of my plays translated and printed from my own promptbooks." There
are also souvenir programs which contain information on multiple productions.
The Clippings series, while comprehensive during the span of Bernhardt's career with
reviews, is very extensive throughout 1923, the year of her death.
The Other Materials series chiefly comprises personal photographs, some family and
ceremonial photographs and various portraits, caricatures, advertisements, prints, and
artistic sketches. Personalities represented with Bernhardt in the photographs include
actress Lillie Langtry, playwright Victorien Sardou, theater mogul Martin Beck, escape
artist Harry Houdini, and her manager William Connors. Also in this series is an Alphonse
Mucha sketch of Bernhardt as
Medea, a copy of a letter from
Her Artistic Life, and several advertisements in which Bernhardt
used her notoriety to sell various products.
Related Material
Additional material by and about Sarah Bernhardt are located in the Ransomc Center's
Carlton Lake Collection of French Manuscripts, Carlton Lake Literary File Photography
Collection, Carlton Lake Art Collection, John Gassner Papers, Frank Harris papers, Harry
Houdini Papers, Harry Houdini Collection, Artine Artinian Collection of French Manuscripts,
Artine Artinian Art Collection, Joanna Richardson Papers, B. J. Simmons and Co. Collection,
Performing Arts Prints Collection, Ernest William Smith Collection, the Helmut and Alison
Gernsheim Papers, the Al Hirchfeld Collection, the Edward Gordon Craig Collection, Literary
File Photography Collection, Jed Mace Collection, and the Ransom Center library.
The University of Pennsylvania Rare Book and Manuscript Library also offers a substantial
collection of Sarah Bernhardt images in their Philip H. Ward Collection of Theatrical
Images.
Provenance
The Sarah Bernhardt Collection was compiled from materials previously organized within the
Ransom Center's Theater Biography file and is now a discrete collection. A large portion of
the materials are originally from the Albert Davis and Messmore Kendall Collections.
Preferred Citation:
Sarah Bernhardt Collection (Performing Arts Collection PA-00170). Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
Index Terms
People
Nadar, Paul, 1856-1939.
Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896.
Mucha, Alphonse Marie, 1860-1939.
Subjects
Actors--France.
Theater--France.
Document Types
Cabinet photographs.
Cartoons.
Photographs.
Playbills.
Postcards.
Portraits.
Prints.
Scrapbooks.
Theatre programs.
Container List
Series I. Theater Productions, circa
1872-1920
Subseries A. Photographic Images and Prints, circa
1872-1920
Adrienne Lecouvreur
1.1
2 photos, circa 1880
1.2
1 photo, 1 sketch, 1 clipping, circa 1906
1.3
Agamemnon, 1 photo, undated
l'Aiglon
1.4-5
6 photos, 4 clippings, circa 1900
8.1
2 photos, 1 clipping, circa 1900
osb 10.1-2
2 photos, circa 1900
osp A
RESTRICTED--Alphonse Mucha posters of Bernhardt as the Duc de Reichstadt in L'Aiglon
(2 items), 80.25 inches × 30 inches, 1900
1.6
Athalie, 1 photo circa
1920
1.7
La Beffa, 1 photo, circa
1910
Camille (La Dame aux Camelias)
osb 12.1
Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt at the Thêátre de la Renaissance, 13.5
inches × 5.25 inches, undated
1.8-10
15 photos, 1 postcard, circa 1880
1.11
2 clippings, circa 1890
1.12
1 postcard, circa 1906
1.13
2 photos, circa 1910
8.2
1 print, 1 clipping,circa 1913
Cleopatra
1.14-17
7 photos, 2 prints, 1 postcard, 1 clipping, circa
1890
1.18
Clarin, Georges, 3 prints, circa 1890
Cyrano de Bergerac
1.19-20
3 photos, 3 clippings, circa 1900
8.3
2 photos, circa 1900
1.21
La Dame de Challant, 1 photo,
circa 1892
l'Etrangere (The Stranger)
1.22
2 clippings, circa 1876
8.4
6 prints,circa 1876
osb 10.3
2 matted photos, circa 1876
Fedora
1.23
1 photo, circa 1882
osb 12.4
"Description des Toilettes de Mme. Sarah Bernhardt," Fedora, print clipping, 1882
1.24
Francesca da Rimini, clipping,
circa 1902
osb 12.2
François le Champi, Berthaud, H./Helios
Studio. Bernhardt as Mariette in François le Champi, 1
photo, circa 1867
1.25-28
Frou Frou, 13 photos, circa
1880
Gismonda
1.29
1 photo, 3 clippings, circa 1894
10.4
Mucha, Alphonse,
1 mini-poster, circa 1894
osf 6
Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Gismonda (American tour under the
direction of Abbey, Schoeffel, and Grau), (2 items) 39.5 inches × 30 inches, 40.25
inches × 30 inches, undated
osp A
RESTRICTED--Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Gismonda, 77.75 inches × 28.5
inches, undated
Hamlet
1.30
1 photo, 2 clippings, circa 1900
10.5
3 photos, circa 1900
10.6
Berger, Rene,
1 print, circa 1900
osp A
RESTRICTED--Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Hamlet at the Thêátre Sarah
Bernhardt, 82.75 inches × 28.5 inches, 1899
osp A
RESTRICTED--Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Hamlet at the Thêátre Sarah
Bernhardt, 82.25 inches × 29.75 inches, 1899
Hernani
2.1-2
6 photos, circa 1877
8.5
2 prints, circa 1887
2.3
1 photo, 1 print, 1 clipping, undated
Izeyl
2.4-5
3 photos; 7 clippings, circa 1894
8.6
1 photo, circa 1894
10.7
1 clipping, circa 1894
osb 12.6
Color cover of "The Illustrated London News," 1894
Jeanne d'Arc
2.6-7
7 photos, circa 1890
osf 1
1 print, circa 1890
Leah
2.8
2 photos, 3 prints, 3 clippings, circa
1892
8.7
1 photo, circa 1892
osf 4
Lorenzaccio, Alphonse Mucha poster of
Bernhardt as Lorenzaccio at the Thêátre de la Renaissance, 41.75 inches × 14.75
inches, circa 1896
Macbeth
2.9
1 print, circa 1884
8.8
1 print, circa 1884
Medea, circa
1898
osp A
RESTRICTED--Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Medee, 85 inches × 34.5 inches,
1898
8.33
Alphonse Mucha sketch of Bernhardt as Medea
Une Nuit de Noel sous la Terreur
2.10-12
10 photos, 1 photo with autograph, circa
1912
osb 10.8
1 clipping, circa 1913
2.13
La Passant, 2 photos, 1 clipping,
circa 1868
Phedre
2.14-18
30 photos, circa 1880
2.19
4 clippings, circa
1880-1906
8.9
2 photos, 1 negative photo, circa 1906
2.20
1 photo, 2 clippings, circa
1916-1918
La Princesse Lointaine
2.21
3 photos, 1 postcard, 2 clippings, circa
1895
osf 2
Berthon, Paul, 1 print, circa 1895
2.22-23
Ruy Blas, 8 photos, 1 clipping,
circa 1872
osp A
RESTRICTED--La samaritaine, Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Photine in La samaritaine at the Thêátre de la Renaissance, 69.5
inches × 23.5 inches, circa 1897
Theodora
3.1-2
10 photos, 2 clippings, circa 1884
8.10
1 photo, circa 1884
osp A
RESTRICTED--Georges Clairin poster of Bernhardt as Theodora, 81 inches × 30.25
inches, undated
osp A
RESTRICTED--Manuel Orazi poster of Bernhardt as Theodora, 47.5 inches × 33 inches,
undated
osb 12.3
Manuel Orazi print of Bernhardt as Theodora at the Thêátre de la Porte
Saint-Martin, 16 inches x 11.5 inches, undated
3.3
Theroigne de Mericourt, 3 photos,
circa 1902
La Tosca
3.4-5
2 photos, 2 prints, 2 clippings, circa
1887
osf 5
Alphonse Mucha poster of Bernhardt as Tosca at the Thêátre Sarah
Berhardt, 41.5 inches × 15 inches, 1899
3.6
Varennes, 1 clipping, circa
1904
3.7
Multiple productions, 1 photo, undated
osf 3
Farewell American Tour, 1 print, 1905-1906
3.8
Miscellaneous, 1 postcard, 1 clipping, undated
Subseries B. Playbills and Programs, circa
1880-1918
3.9-10, 8.11
Adrienne Lecouvreur, 1880-1896
3.11-15
l'Aiglon, 1900-1901, 1910,
undated
3.16
Angelo,
1905
Camille
8.12
1880-1887
3.17-19
1881-1910
Cleopatra
3.20-21
1891, undated
8.13
1892
osb 10.9
Cyrano de Bergerac,
1900
3.22
La Faux Modele,
undated
Fedora
8.14
1887, 1891
3.23
1887, 1892
3.24
Undated
Frou Frou
8.15
1880-1881
3.25
1881
3.26
Gismonda,
undated
3.27
Hamlet, 1899-1900
3.28-29
Hecube, 1916-1917
Hernani
8.16
1880
4.1
1887
4.2
Izeyl, 1896,
undated
4.3
Jeanne d'Arc,
undated
4.4
Leah, 1892
4.5
Madame X,
1910
4.6
Phedre,
1918
8.17
La Princesse Georges,
1881
4.7
Du Theatre au Champ d'Honour,
1916
4.8, 8.18
Theodora,
1887
La Tosca
8.19
1892, 1896
4.9-10
1905, undated
osb 10.10
Undated
Multiple productions
8.20
1880
4.11
1881-1906
4.12
1910-1911
4.13
1912-1913
8.20
1916
4.14
1916-1917
4.15
Undated
osb 10.11
Miscellaneous
Series II. Clippings & Scrapbook, circa 1879-1977,
undated
5.1
1879-1899
5.2
1900-1913
8.21
1900-1915
5.3
1914-1922
1923
5.4, 8.22
March
5.5
April
5.6
May-June
5.7
July-September
osb 11.1
1923-1924
5.8
1924-1929
5.9
1930-1977
osb 11.2
1937
8.23
1942, undated
5.10
Undated
7.19
3 clippings of posters by Alphonse Mucha, undated
9
Scrapbook, circa 1900-1906
Series III. Other Materials, circa 1860-1920,
undated
Subseries A. Personal Photographs, circa
1860-1920
6.1
1 photo, circa 1860,
6.2
7 photos, circa 1870,
6.3
3 photos, 2 prints,circa 1876
6.4-10
33 photos, circa 1880
6.11
Bernhardt with Lillie Langtry, 3 photos, 1 clipping, circa
1887
6.12-13
13 photos, 1 clipping, circa 1890
8.24
1 photo, circa 1890
6.14
Bernhardt with Suzanne Seylor, 1 photo, circa
1896
6.15
15 items (6 images, 9 duplicates), circa
1900
6.16
10 items (3 images, 7 duplicates), circa
1900
6.17
40 items (1 image, 39 duplicates), circa
1900
7.1
24 items (2 images, 22 duplicates), circa
1900
8.25
Bernhardt with Victorien Sardou, 1 clipping, circa
1903
8.26
1 photo, circa 1904
7.2, osb 11.3
Bernhardt in front of tent, 1 photo, 1 negative photo, 1 photo,
circa 1906
7.3
Bernhardt with Harry Houdini, 15 items (3 images, 12 duplicates),
circa 1910
7.4-5
6 photos, 1 postcard, 3 clippings, circa
1910-1920
8.27
Bernhardt with manager, William Connors, 1 photo, circa
1911
8.28
Bernhardt with Martin Beck, 2 photos, circa
1913
7.6
Bernhardt with company, 1 clipping, circa
1916
7.7
Bernhardt with family, 2 photos, circa
1918,
osb 11.4
Bernhardt on tour train, 1 photo, undated
Subseries B. Family and Other, undated
7.8
Bernard, Royal, 2 photos, undated
7.9
Bernhardt, Jeanne, 6 photos, 1 clipping, undated
7.10
Damala, Jacques, 1 photo, undated
7.11
Other people,2 clippings, undated
7.12
Bernhardt tent, 2 photos, undated
7.13
Belle Ile en Mer, 4 postcards, undated
Subseries C. Ceremonies, circa
1913-1914
8.29-31
Wreath presentation, 12 photos, circa 1913
8.32
Award in New York, 3 photos, circa 1913
7.14
Legion of Honor presentation, 1 clipping, circa
1914,
Subseries D. Miscellaneous, circa 1903,
undated
7.15, osb 11.5
Advertisements, 5 clippings, undated
7.23
Autographs, 2 items, undated
osb 11.6-7
Bautier, Marguerite, sketch and mat, undated
osb 11.8
Berger, Rene, print (Bernhardt as Tosca?), undated
osb 12.5
"Can the American Woman Design Her Own Clothes?," article by Bernhardt,
1913
7.17
Caricatures, 4 prints, 1 clipping, undated
7.16
Handwritten note, 1903
7.18
Her Artistic Life, 6 page copy of letter,
undated
7.24
10 letters, 1879-1920 and undated,
Portraits
7.20
5 prints, 4 clippings, undated
8.34
9 prints, 1 clipping, undated
osb 11.9-10
3 prints, undated
7.21
Sculptures, 4 photos, undated
Miscellaneous
7.22
2 items, undated
8.35
1 print, 3 clippings, undated