Tag Archives: Eliza Poe

Crowd Celebrates Poe’s Birthday in RVA

People of all ages arrived at the Poe Museum last Saturday for the thirteen-hour Poe Birthday Bash 2016. A line had already formed on the sidewalk before the museum even opened, and there was still a crowd lingering after the midnight champagne toast. Below are a few scenes from the celebration. The cake featured Poe,…

Poe’s Actress Mother-Part Two

Last year, we shared part one of Eliza Poe’s life. Follow the rest of her journey as David, Edgar, and Edgar’s siblings are introduced. Following Eliza’s marriage, she and her husband, Charles, arrived in Alexandria, Virginia, and were set to perform at Liberty Hall for six weeks in August 1802 (Smith 59-60). When Eliza began…

A Tour of Poe Sites in Boston and Providence

A recent business trip gave me an excuse to visit Boston and Providence to see some Poe sites in the area. Sandra Luzzi Sneesby had invited me to speak at an exhibit of her installation The Women who Loved Poe in Providence. Once she picked me up from the airport, she took me to Edgar…

Poe Museum Observes Anniversary of Poe’s Death

Anyone can celebrate a birthday, but the Poe Museum also celebrates a death day. On October 3, 2013, the Poe Museum in Richmond will observe the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death (October 7, 1849), with a tribute from Elmira Shelton, the woman to whom Poe was engaged when he died. Debbie Phillips, who has…

Poe Museum Acquires Documents Related to Poe’s Parents

Although the Poe Museum’s collection is comprised of thousands of objects, there are still holes in the collection. One place the collection can still grow is in its artifacts related to Edgar Allan Poe’s parents, the actors David Poe, Jr. (1784-1810?) and Eliza Poe (1787-1811). Both were actors who died young–when Edgar was only two….

Two New Paintings of Eliza Poe

In honor of Edgar Allan Poe’s mother on the bicentennial of her death, a Richmond artist painted these two portraits of Eliza Poe. The first is closely based on the only surviving life portrait of Eliza Poe. The second portrait was painted from the actress Debbie Phillips during one of her performances as Eliza Poe….

Bicentennial of Poe’s Mother’s Death Commemorated at Poe Museum

Thursday, December 8, 2011 is the bicentennial of the death of Edgar Allan Poe’s mother, Eliza Poe. Though Edgar was only two years old when he lost his mother, his “mournful and neverending remembrance” of her cast a shadow over his life and work. Although Eliza Poe’s fame has long been overshadowed by her famous…

Enjoy some holiday cheer at the Poe Museum Illumination

The Poe Museum is helping to usher in the holiday season with a special event of our own on Friday, December 2nd. Our Enchanted Garden will be looking extra-enchanted with thousands of Christmas lights and assorted decorations. There will be hot cider as well as tea, coffee and gingerbread for sale, and we’ll also have…

New Exhibit Reveals Untold Story of Poe’s Mother

Edgar Allan Poe was not the first member of his family to bring fame to the Poe name. His mother, Eliza Poe, who died at the age of twenty-four when Edgar was only two, was a gifted actress and singer who performed throughout the country. Just in time for the bicentennial of her death, the…

Poe’s Mother visits Unhappy Hour

Mrs. Poe regaling Unhappy Hour visitors with tales about her life as an actress. May’s Unhappy Hour was graced by the presence of Poe’s mother,Eliza Poe (as portrayed by Debbie Phillips). Mrs. Poe met and mingled with visitors to the Unhappy Hour event and regaled her audience with stories of her life as an actress…