Richard Berry Harrison facts for kids

Richard Berry Harrison (born September 28, 1864 – died March 14, 1935) was a talented actor, teacher, and speaker. His parents bravely escaped slavery and found a new home in Canada. Richard started performing when he was young. He studied acting in Detroit, Michigan, and became a well-known actor and dramatic reader in the United States. He was even featured on the cover of TIME magazine on March 4, 1935.

Early Life and Training

Richard Harrison's wife, Gertrude Janet Washington

Richard Harrison's parents escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped people find freedom. Richard was born in London, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 1864. He was the oldest of five children.

His mother loved the theatre and named him Richard after seeing a play called Richard III by William Shakespeare. Her love for plays helped inspire Richard to become an actor. When he was young, he sold newspapers and tried to get to know actors at a local theatre. He would use his saved money to watch plays. People noticed his talent early on when he gave recitations (performances where he read or recited poems) at school and church.

After moving to Detroit, Richard began to study acting seriously. He attended the Detroit Training School of Dramatic Art. He also had private lessons with Edward Weitzel, a drama expert from the Detroit Free Press newspaper.

Becoming a Dramatic Reader

From 1892 to 1896, Richard traveled all over the United States. He performed as a "dramatic reader," which meant he would read plays and poems aloud, bringing the characters to life with his voice. His performances included works by Shakespeare and poems by his friend, Paul Laurence Dunbar. He even helped promote Dunbar's book, Oak and Ivy.

In 1895, Richard married Gertrude Janet Washington. She was the first Black person to graduate from the Chicago Conservatory of Music. They had two children, Lawrence Gilbert and Marian Ysobel.

Starring on Broadway

Richard Harrison's grave

Richard Harrison became very famous for playing the role of "de Lawd" in the play The Green Pastures by Marc Connelly. This play opened on Broadway in New York City on February 26, 1930. He performed in more than 1,650 shows!

The play ran for 16 months in New York, then went on tour. It visited over 203 cities and towns, including Richard's hometown of London, Ontario. The Green Pastures was so successful that it won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the writer, Marc Connelly, in 1931.

Teaching and Later Life

Besides acting, Richard Harrison also taught. He taught classes on how to speak clearly (called elocution) and drama at several colleges. These included North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Branch Normal College (now part of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), and Flipper-Key College in Oklahoma.

Richard Harrison passed away from heart failure in New York City on March 14, 1935. This was just ten days after he appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.

Awards and Honors

Richard Harrison received many awards and honors for his amazing work:

• In 1931, he received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. This award is given for outstanding achievements by African Americans.
• On his 70th birthday in 1934, he received honorary degrees from several universities. This means they recognized his achievements even though he didn't attend their regular classes. He received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Howard University. He also received honorary doctorate degrees in Dramatic Literature from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College and Lincoln University.
• He was the first actor ever to be awarded the Sigma Society Key from Boston University.
• Many religious leaders praised his performances. He even received an inscribed Bible from the Clergy Club of New York City.

Places Named in His Honor

Many places have been named after Richard Harrison to remember his legacy:

• A public library in Raleigh, North Carolina, founded by Mollie Huston Lee, was named the Richard B. Harrison Library in 1935. It also has the Richard B. Harrison Community Auditorium.
• Richard B. Harrison High School in Blytheville, Arkansas, is named after him.
• The Richard B. Harrison Gymnasium in Selma, North Carolina, is also named in his honor.
• In 2003, a historical plaque was placed in a park in London, Ontario, named after him. This park is near where his childhood home once stood.
• In 2006, the Richard B. Harrison Auditorium was completed at the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T).
• The theater company at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University is named after him.
• In 2015, the Harrison Park Square Senior Residence in Newark, New Jersey, was dedicated to him.