Modjeska-Opid Family Papers, 1869-1982

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Summary

Creators:
Opid family.
Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence, photographs, and ephemera of Polish actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) and members of the family of Ludwik Opid (1865-1948), whom Modjeska considered to be a nephew, dating from 1869-1982. The bulk of the materials consists of correspondence, in Polish, between members of the Opid family in Poland and Ludwik Opid in Los Angeles, California, dating from the 1910s-1940s.
Extent:
approximately 300 items in 4 boxes and 1 four-flap envelope
Language:
English and Polish.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains correspondence, photographs, and ephemera of Polish actress Helena Modjeska and members of the family of Ludwik Opid, dating from 1869 to 1982. The bulk of the materials consists of correspondence, in Polish, between members of the Opid family in Poland and Ludwik Opid in Los Angeles, California, dating from the 1910s to 1940s.

While most of the materials post-date Modjeska's death in 1909, there are some materials created by or related to Modjeska including two handwritten actor's sides for two plays Modjeska starred in the mid 1880s; 17 letters by Modjeska, dated 1902-1909, including 7 letters to Ludwik Opid in Polish (1902-1909 and undated); 9 letters to Ludwik's wife Caroline Opid in English (1905-1908 and undated); and 1 letter to Ludwik's daughters in English (1905). There are also photographs of her Southern California homes and portraits of her, as well as 31 theater-related fabric and crepe sashes, chiefly with Polish lettering and dating from the 1890s to early 1900s. These sashes presumably were presented to Modjeska in towns where she was performing.

The correspondence chiefly consists of letters from Opid family members to Ludwik Opid in Polish; the largest group is a set of 98 letters from Marianna Popielecka to her brother Ludwik (1912-1949). Correspondence to Ludwik also includes: 5 letters from Helena Gocowa (1923, 1946-1947); 10 letters from his younger sister Helena (Opid) Kozutska (1912, 1946-1948); 8 letters from his brother Adam Opid (1914, 1928-1930); 2 letters from his nephew Adolf Opid (1931-1932); 1 letter from his brother Bolesław Opid (1906); 1 postcard from his son, John Opid, and daughter-in-law Eleanor Opid (1926); and 6 letters from his mother Kunegunda Opid (approximately 1900s-1910s?). Within the correspondence series, there are also 2 letters from Modeska's husband Karol Chłapowski (Count Bozenta) (1908 and 1911); 1 letter from J. Kruszyńska (1888); 1 postcard possibly from Ralph Modjeska (1905); 1 letter from Mary Opid to Stefeni (1899); and 11 letters and 1 document by Ludwik's father, Adolf Opid, including letters to Helena Modjeska (1869-1870s and undated) and letters to his mother, Jozefa Bendow.

There are 75 photographs in the collection chiefly consisting of snapshot photographs of the Opid family, both in Poland and California, as well as 14 images of "Arden," Modjeska's estate, near Santa Ana, California and 6 portrait photographs of Modjeska at various ages.

There are also newspaper clippings about Modjeska both from Polish and Los Angeles newspapers, some later pieces of ephemera, correspondence, and printed items related to the history of Helena Modjeska.

Biographical / historical:

Polish-American stage actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) was born in Kraków, Poland, on October 12, 1840. Her mother, Józefa (Misel) Benda (1803-October 21, 1887), was the widow of merchant Szymon Benda (1770-1835), and Modjeska was born as Jadwiga Benda but later baptized as Helena Opid, with the surname of her godfather, music teacher Michael Opid. Modjeska's first theatrical appearance occurred in 1861 in Poland, and she first traveled to the United States to perform in 1876. In 1861, Modjeska had a son with Gustave Sinnmayer Modrzejewski (1825-1901), Rudolf (1861-1940) (later known as Ralph Modjeski), who became a civil engineer in the United States, and a daughter who died as a baby. In 1868 Modjeska married Karol Chłapowski (1832-1916), known as Count Bozenta. Modjeska built a house, named "Arden," near Santa Ana, California, and lived there from 1888 until 1906; after the property was sold, they lived in Tustin, California, and then later at a beach house on Bay Island, Newport Beach, California, where Modjeska died on April 8, 1909.

Though not biologically related to Michael Opid, Modjeska referred to him and Opid's children and grandchildren as family. Michael Opid's children included Adolf Opid (1838-1892), who was married to Kunegunda Kazimiera Jarzębska Opid and had six children including:

  • Adam Opid
  • BolesÅ‚aw Opid (1871-1916)
  • Ludwik Opid (1865-1948), also known as Louis
  • Marianna Opid Popielecka (1866 or 1867-1859 or 1960)
  • Helen Opid Kozutska

Modjeska considered Ludwik Opid (1865-1948) to be her nephew. Opid was born in Krakow, Poland, and came to the United States in 1889 and Los Angeles in 1895, where he was a music teacher and concert cellist. With his first wife, Opid had three children: Helena or Helen Opid Kozlowski (born in New York, 1892-1994), Felicia (Lola) (1893-1918) and Jan (1890-1958), later known as John T. Opid. Ludwik Opid married Caroline Hildebrand Opid (1884-1973) in 1905 and they had one child: Stephanie Opid Holton (1910-2008).

Acquisition information:
Gift of Stephanie Opid Holton, July 1997.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Manuscript plays
  • Correspondence
  • Photographs
  • Ephemera, printed material, and later documents
  • Sashes

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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