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(THEATER.) Archive of personal papers of Norline Brisac.
"STRUGGLE AND FIGHT TO EARN YOUR LIVING" (THEATER.) Archive of personal papers of Norline Brisac. Approximately 90 items in one box, mostly correspondence but also including certificates, playbills, and 4 pieces of jewelry. Condition generally strong. Vp, 1875-1903
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Notes: a vivid record of a young man trying to find his way in the world. Norline Frederick Brisac (1856-1902) led a busy and complicated life. Born in San Francisco as the eldest son of a wealthy French-born insurance executive, he attended Santa Clara College, and left in 1875 to see the world. The next few years found him taking chemistry classes in Heidelberg, studying law in Tripoli under the U.S. Consul, selling life insurance in Peru, and working as a theatrical advance man in the United States. In the mid-1880s, he married semi-famous actress Mary Shaw, although they were soon separated. He died in Los Angeles in 1902.
This archive includes letters from Brisac's disapproving father and brother, a florid letter from a jilted lover on her deathbed, desperate financial negotiations after his father cuts him off, and letters from his eccentric array of friends and creditors in California, France, Germany, Tripoli, and New York, some filled with profanity. Perhaps the highlight is a series of long 1877 letters between Brisac and his father, culminating with this final letter from the father: "Show me you are good for something else, I should think you are good for nothing, except to write empty & sonorant sentences . . . In my judgement nothing can be better for your future welfare than to let you struggle and fight to earn your living." Also included are 5 very long letters Brisac wrote from Lima to an actress he called "Darling Mamie" (possibly Mary Shaw) in 1884. The letters are filled with details of the political and social life of Peru as the War of the Pacific came to a conclusion. Other papers deal more with theatrical work: an undated letter from producer Daniel Frohman asking Brisac to handle advance work for a leg of his Modjeska tour; 3 undated playbills featuring Shaw; and a 1901 fan letter from "A Wellwisher" to "Amrah" (Shaw's famous role from Ben Hur). These papers are mostly in English, with some in French, German, and Arabic. Most of the papers date from 1875 to 1877, with some extending through 1903. -
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