Goodrich, Adelaide Eunice. Collection, ca. 1837-1916

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Theater and Performing Arts

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Adelaide Eunice Goodrich was born in Chicago about 1861, one of seven daughters, of H. C. Goodrich, a wealthy Chicago socialite and inventor and patentee of numerous sewing machine parts. She married William Pottle, Jr., an actor an also a member of an aristocratic Chicago family. Their daughter, Theodora, was born in 1889. Theodora Pottle received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Chicago and served for many years as head of the Art Department at Western Illinois University.

Goodrich began her stage career around the age of thirteen when she gave recitations before various groups in Chicago, including the Women's Benevolent Society. In 1877 she joined McVicker's Theatre stock company in 1877. The experience Goodrich gained in that theatre led to larger and better roles and eventually she left McVicker's and formed her own company. Between 1882 and about 1904, Goodrich starred in many roles with this troupe. Her husband, William Pottle, Jr. was business manager of the company, while their daughter, billed as "Baby Pottle," began playing roles at the age of two and a half.

The family and company toured throughout the western States and Canada, performing in most of the larger cities of that region and, according to the press clippings, were received warmly at all of their stops.

Besides acting, Miss Goodrich wrote a few novels and many plays. Among the former her most successful was Raouleau, A Story of the Nile. Of her plays, several appear in this collection in the form of prompt books. She also translated works of the poet Sappho into English.

The Adelaide Eunice Goodrich Collection contains prompt books of plays, scrapbooks, photographs, and a small group of patents and other legal documents of H. C. Goodrich. The collection also includes newspaper clippings featuring interviews with Goodrich in which she voices her opinions on comedy, drama, and the theater in general, as well as her impressions of the towns and cities where she and her troupe performed.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

• Names
  • Goodrich, Adelaide Eunice
  • Goodrich, H.C.
• SubjectWomen in the theater