Ruth Bedford Moran (1870-1948), daughter of the famed American landscape painter Thomas Moran (1837-1926) and the artist Mary Nimmo Moran (1842-1899), was particularly fond of the theater and performing. Beginning in 1886, she often gave readings from William Shakespeare during lavish parties in her family's studio. This image shows a group of people dressed in theatrical costumes outside the Moran family's home and studio in East Hampton circa 1889.
Although the date of the photograph is estimated, it is likely that it was taken during one of the parties at which Ruth read. The East Hampton Star covered one of her reading parties in 1899, describing those gathered on June 27 of that year at the family's studio as a "cultured and appreciative audience." About a half-hour after they arrived, Ruth Moran descended the stairs wearing a "gown of pink silk trimmed with old yellow lace." This description resembles the attire Ruth is wearing in this photo, in which she appears seated in the middle.
Several of the men in the photo are also dressed in Elizabethan-style costumes associated with Shakespeare. Based on other photos, they are likely members of the Moran family, including Paul Nimmo Moran (1864-1907), Edward Percy Moran (1862-1935), and John Leon Moran (1864-1941). Ruth's choice for this reading consisted of scenes from "The Merchant of Venice," and guests described it as "most successful."
Those in attendance included Mrs. Herrick, Mrs. Wheelock, Miss Thorpe, Mrs. Osborne, Miss Nesbit, Mr. Jefferys, Miss Churchill, Mrs. Vaughan, Frederic Gallatin, Reverend Jefferys, Miss Ell Smith, Mrs. Stimson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Percy Moran, and Edward DeRose.
Ruth Moran planned to continue these readings on Tuesday afternoons, but there is no evidence that she did.
