Ednorah Nahar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ednorah Nahar
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Ednorah E. Nahar
1873 |
| Died | November 14, 1936 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Ednora |
| Occupation | Dramatic speaker |
| Years active | 1886–1920 |
Ednorah Nahar was an African American woman from Boston who was very good at performing speeches and dramatic readings. She was known as an elocutionist. From the late 1880s to the early 1900s, she gave many performances across the United States and even in other countries.
Contents
Who Was Ednorah Nahar?
Ednorah Nahar was born in Boston in 1873. Her parents were Amelia and Edwin H. Nahar. Her family was well-known in Boston. She was also a cousin to Joan Imogen Howard, another famous person.
Early Life and Learning
In 1879, Ednorah went to the Bowdoin School for girls. After finishing grammar school, she studied at the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute in Fort Edward, New York. She was very talented at public speaking and performing. Because of her skills, she even taught younger children while she was still a student. She also took acting classes at the Madison Dramatic School in New York City.
A Star on Stage
Ednorah Nahar first performed on stage on November 16, 1886. Within a year, she gave readings at the Chickering Hall in Boston. She was only the second black woman to perform there.
On November 17, 1890, she performed for a huge crowd of 5,000 people. The United States Marine Band played music for her show in Philadelphia.
Traveling Performer
Ednorah traveled a lot for her performances. She visited ten different British West Indies colonies. She also performed in thirty-one states across the United States. By 1893, she had given over 800 concerts!
Managing Her Own Shows
Ednorah was very independent. She managed her own performances. In February 1893, she also started managing other performers. One famous person she managed was the singer Sissieretta Jones. Ednorah performed with Jones at Carnegie Hall in 1893. People often said Ednorah Nahar was one of the best elocutionists of her time. She was also praised for how well she managed her concert tours.
In 1896, she planned a trip to Europe. This trip included shows in London and Paris. In 1899, she went to London again. A very wealthy duchess, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough, supported her trip. Ednorah kept performing in the United States through the 1900s. She performed dramas and also sang. By 1905, she was living in New York City.
Later Life
On February 28, 1916, Ednorah Nahar married William F. X. Dierkes. He was a type of doctor called an osteopath. He was also a veteran from the Spanish–American War. They got married in Boone, Iowa.
After an automobile accident, Ednorah started performing less often. Her last known performance was in 1920. By 1923, the Dierkes family had moved to Westfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Dierkes started his own medical practice there. Ednorah and her husband both became unwell in late 1936. Ednorah passed away on November 14, 1936. Her husband passed away four weeks later.
