Richard Berry Harrison

Richard Berry Harrison was born 9.28.1864, in London, Ontario, Canada. He was an African American actor, teacher, dramatic reader, lecturer, and elocutionist.

His parents had escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and made it to London, Ontario, Canada. His mother named him Richard after seeing a performance of Shakespeare's Richard III. Her interest in theater placed Harrison on the way to becoming an actor. In his youth, he sold newspapers and managed to work near the local theater where he would try to get to know the actors. Whenever he saved enough money, he would attend the plays. His talents were recognized early in recitations that he would give at school and in church.

After moving to Detroit, he began his dramatic studies at the Detroit Training School of Dramatic Art, and privately with Edward Weitzel, British drama coach and drama editor for the Detroit Free Press. From 1892 to 1896, Harrison traveled, performing as a dramatic reader. Harrison’s repertoire included works from Shakespeare, and poetry from his friend Paul Lawrence Dunbar, including promotional tours for Dunbar's book Oak and Ivy.

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

He became well known nationally for his recitations in both Black and White communities. In his tours, he became aware of a great desire for dramatic training among the people for whom he performed. After convincing the president of North Carolina A&T, James B. Dudley, of the need for a dramatic program of study, he began to offer summer courses there in 1922. At the same time, he moved his family to New York, and began reading and teaching in churches and performing on stage. Harrison's stage credits include, Pa Williams' Gal at the Lafayette Theatre, and The Green Pastures which opened February 26, 1930, at the Mansfield Theatre on Broadway. This show ran for 16 months, went on national tour appearing in 203 towns in 40 states, and won the Pulitzer Prize. Harrison's portrayal of "De Lawd" was important to its success, and won him incredible acclamation.

Harrison also received the NAACP's 1930 Spingarn Medal for Distinguished Achievement and honorary degrees from a number of colleges and universities. On his 70th birthday in 1934, he received numerous congratulatory telegrams, including 14 from college and university presidents, and seven from state governors.

On March 14, 1935, Harrison died of heart failure, having collapsed just before a performance. Fifteen thousand people of all backgrounds came to pay their respects at Harrison's home the night before funeral services. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago.
Received the NAACP’s 1931 Spingarn Medal for Distinguished Achievement.
On his 70th birthday in 1934, he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from Howard University and honorary doctorate degrees in Dramatic Literature from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College and Lincoln University, and he became the first actor ever to be awarded the Sigma Society Key from Boston University. He had shaken the hands of mayors and received congratulatory telegrams from 14 university presidents and seven governors, was praised by many religious leaders for his performance and was awarded an inscribed Bible from the Clergy Club of New York City.
A public library in Raleigh, North Carolina, founded by Mollie Huston Lee, was named after Harrison in 1935. In today's Richard B. Harrison Library is also the Richard B. Harrison Community Auditorium.
Richard B. Harrison High School is named after Harrison, located at Elm, Noble and McHaney Streets in (Selma NC), Blytheville, Arkansas.
Richard B. Harrison Gymnasium on Noble Street in Selma, North Carolina, North Carolina, former site of Richard B. Harrison High School. Richared B. Harrison Alumni Association purchased former Agriculture building as community facility.
Harrison has also received honorary degrees from many U.S. colleges and universities.
Due largely to the efforts of documentary filmmaker/ historian Chris Doty, in 2003 an interpretive historical plaque was erected in a London, Ontario, park named in Harrison's honor at the foot of Clarence Street, near where Harrison’s childhood home was before it was torched in a race-related incident, hours after the Harrison family moved to Detroit, Michigan, circa 1880. (Harrison's childhood home was located on Wellington Street (west side) immediately north of the Thames River.)
In 2006, the Richard B. Harrison Auditorium was completed at the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T).
The North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University's theater company is named after him.
In 2015 the Harrison Park Square Senior Residence was dedicated to him in Newark, NJ.

Reference:
The Ohio State University Libraries.
1858 Neil Avenue Mall
Columbus, OH
43210-1286