Anna Eleanor Wallace papers (Ms. 90.17)

Biographical/Historical note

Anna Eleanor Wallace was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 5, 1886. Her parents, John and Margaret J. Hawkins Wallace, were both born in Ulster County, Ireland. Anna had an older sister, Margaret Josephine (1884-1975). Anna was a lifelong resident of Providence, Rhode Island. She attended the Branch Avenue Grammar School and Hope Street High School (now Hope High School). She began her professional training as a dancer, dance instructor, and elocutionist while she was still in high school. In 1903 she was the first graduate of Miss Lottie M. Largan Forbes' dance school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. She attended many schools of oratory and dance, among them the Samuel B. Kelley School of Oratory (later named the Elizabeth Flower Willis School of Elocution) in Boston; the Chalif Russian Normal School of Dancing and the Vestoff-Serova Russian School of Dancing in New York, New York.; and the Harvard Summer School of Physical Training in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

By the time she graduated from high school in 1906, Miss Wallace had produced her own publicity flyer and was appearing as a elocutionist in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She had established her own school by 1907, where she taught dancing, dramatics, physical training and elocution. In addition to giving private lessons to students of all ages, she directed plays and pageants in local Catholic schools and churches and appeared in fund-raising events for organizations such as the Roger Williams Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Knights of Columbus.

Miss Wallace retired from teaching about 1955. She was not married. She passed away on September 12, 1982 at the age of 96.