Ella Dietz (, Dietz; after first marriage, Clymer, after second marriage, Glynes;
pen
A pen is a common writing instrument that applies ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Early pens such as reed pens, quill pens, dip pens and ruling pens held a small amount of ink on a nib or in a small void or cavity whic ...
and
stage name
A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...
, Ella Dietz; January 27, 1847 – January 9, 1920) was an American actress and author. Professionally known by her
maiden name
When a person (traditionally the wife in many cultures) assumes the family name of their spouse, in some countries that name replaces the person's previous surname, which in the case of the wife is called the maiden name ("birth name" is also used ...
, Ella Dietz, she was a writer of poems and songs, an instructor in elocution and dramatic art, a reader, and a reciter for charitable events. In the United States, she served as the fifth president of
Sorosis
Sorosis Club rules in 1869
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City.
History
The club was organized in New York City with 12 members in March 1868, by Jane Cunningham ...
, vice-president of the National Council of Women, and was a leading member of the Advisory Board of The Federation of Clubs. To the British public, she was well-known for her histrionic abilities, having acted leading roles in over thirty plays in London during the period of 1874 to 1881. She was also skilled as an artist with pencil and brush.
Early life and education
Ella Maria Dietz was born in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, January 27, 1847 (or 1856). She was the daughter of William Henry and Frances Virginia (Robinson) Dietz, granddaughter of John and Sophia (Meinell) Dietz, and great-granddaughter of John Dietz. who emigrated from
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
,
Alsace
Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
, to New York prior to 1776. She was educated at the Cottage Hill Seminary,
Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie ( ), officially the City of Poughkeepsie, separate from the Town of Poughkeepsie around it) is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It is the county seat of Dutchess County, with a 2020 census population of 31,577. Poughkeepsi ...
. On the death of her father, she returned to New York City to assist her mother in her school, the first kindergarten ever established in New York. She wanted to be an actress, but as her mother opposed, she studied drawing and painting instead, along with voice.
Career
Actress
On June 24, 1864, at the age of seventeen, she married Edward Myers Clymer (1822–1883), of
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, brother of
Hiester Clymer
Hiester Clymer (November 3, 1827 – June 12, 1884) was an American political leader from the state of Pennsylvania. Clymer was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty and the Democratic Party. He was the nephew of William Muhlenberg Hi ...
, who was a
member of Congress
A Member of Congress (MOC) is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...
for several years. Her early marriage changed the course of her life, and she attempted to obtain a divorce. Domestic duties, mingled with travel at home and abroad, occupied the next few years. Her winters were passed in studying with the best masters of drawing, elocution and music. After the birth of her only child, changing circumstances made her face the necessity of choosing a profession and she resolved to overcome opposition and became a dramatic artist.
Clymer made her professional debut in New York, in 1871 or 1872, as Pauline in ''
The Lady of Lyons
''The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride'', commonly known as ''The Lady of Lyons'', is a five act romantic melodrama written in 1838 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton. It was first produced in London at Covent Garden Theatre on 15 Februar ...
''. In the spring of 1874, accompanied by her brother and her sister, the actress,
Linda Dietz, Clymer went to France to study at the
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...
and to act at the
Haymarket, London
Haymarket is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, London. It runs from Piccadilly Circus in the north to Pall Mall, London, Pall Mall at the southern end. Located on the street are the Haymarket Theatre, Theatre Royal, He ...
, and in surrounding areas. Clymer translated and adapted plays, some of which were produced by a company of her own organizing. In 1880, she helped form "The Church and Stage Guild". Her performances as an actress and dramatic reader of the principal Shakespearean parts were highly commended. It was said that her
Juliet
Juliet Capulet () is the female protagonist in William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. A 13-year-old girl, Juliet is the only daughter of the patriarch of the House of Capulet. She falls in love with the male protagonist R ...
was "a revelation, poetical and imaginative in the highest degree." She appeared as Ophelia, Portia, Desdemona, and as Helena in a special revival of ''
Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
''. In 1881, she brought out a version of ''
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540).
The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads ...
'', adapted by herself for the English stage, in which she played Margaret.
With a London company, Dietz toured in ''Romeo and Juliet'', ''As you like it'', ''Lady Clancarty'', and a new version of ''Faust and Marguerite'', which she adapted for the English stage. The ''Court Circular'' of February 12, 1881, wrote that:
''The Northern Evening Mail'' went on to say:
In 1881, Dietz fatigued of stage life and abandoned the profession. She continued her public readings, however, of which
Moncure D. Conway
Moncure Daniel Conway (March 17, 1832 – November 15, 1907) was an American abolitionist minister and radical writer. At various times Methodist, Unitarian, and a Freethinker, he descended from patriotic and patrician families of Virginia and ...
wrote:
Writer
Her literary work began in 1873, when she contributed verses to New York periodicals, and later in London under the pen name of "Ella Dietz". She wrote frequently for the English and American press. In 1877, she published ''The Triumph of Love'' (176 pages, Emory Adams Allen, London, 1877), which was well received by the English press. Seven years later, she published ''The Triumph of Time'' (London, 1884), which was soon followed by ''The Triumph of Life'' (London, Emory Adams Allen, 1885). These were mystical poems, composed of songs, lyrics and sonnets, ranging over the whole gamut of human and divine love, and marked by the same high qualities that distinguished all her work. She wrote several pieces for the "Church and Stage Guild" including "Of Art Critics And Audiences" (to Canon Liddon), "Goethe's Faust" (Church Reformer, December 1885), "Faust's Monologue" (Church Reformer, February 1886), and "Church And Stage, A Paper read by Ella Dietz before the Church Guilds Union" (Church Reformer, March 1886).
While in London she was a member of the Church and Stage Guild, and of the religious
Guild of St Matthew
The Guild of St Matthew was an English high-church Christian socialist association led by Stewart Headlam from its establishment in Bethnal Green on 29 June 1877 when Headlam was Curate at St Matthew's to its dissolution in 1909. While the guild ...
. She lectured before clubs and took part in other philanthropic endeavors. She was connected with Sorosis since its beginning, in 1868, and on her return to New York, in 1881, immediately joined its committees, and served for two years as its president. She was a leading factor in the Federation of Women's Clubs.
Personal life
In 1898, she married Webster Glynes. She had one son, Edward Manuel Clymer.
Ella Dietz Clymer died in London, England, January 9, 1920.
Critical reviews
''The Triumph of Love'', sold for Three Shillings and Sixpence. It was reviewed by ''The Examiner'' who stated—
''The Triumph of Time'' sold for Four Shillings and Sixpence. It was reviewed by The Academy who stated:—
''The Literary World'' commented as well:—
''The Triumph of Life'' sold for Seven Shillings and Sixpence. It was reviewed by ''The Graphic'' who stated:—
Selected works
* 1877, ''The triumph of love. : a mystical poem in songs, sonnets, and verse''
* 1884, ''The triumph of time. : Mystical poem''
* 1885, ''The triumph of life. : Mystical poem''
References
Attribution
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Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Clymer,
1847 births
1920 deaths
19th-century American actresses
19th-century American poets
19th-century American women writers
American stage actresses
Actresses from New York City
American Christian socialists
American women poets
Anglican socialists
Poets from New York (state)
Female Christian socialists
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century