Frances H. Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Frances Hubbard Flaherty (December 5, 1883—June 22, 1972) was married to acclaimed documentary film
maker Robert J. Flaherty
from 1914 until his death in 1951.
Frances Johnson Hubbard was born in Bonn, Germany into "a household of erudition, gentility, and privilege," the daughter of Lucius L. Hubbard (1849-1933), who was studying mineralogy at the University of Bonn
, and his wife Frances (1852-1927). She met Robert Flaherty in 1903 in Painesdale, Michigan
, where he was employed by her father; the two fell in love, but Flaherty, then "a lumberjack-handyman... of no means and few expectations," was dismissed by her father, after which Frances had a nervous breakdown and was treated at a sanatorium in Dansville, New York
, while Flaherty went to British Columbia
. Frances visited him there during the summer of 1908, but the two quarreled, and Frances broke their engagement and went back East.
Over the next few years, she "traveled to New York and Paris to continue her conservatory training in music and piano, and in 1911 she visited the West Indies and South America." On November 12, 1914, she married Flaherty in a civil ceremony in New York City
; it is not clear how their relationship was renewed: "Legend has it that she sent him a congratulatory telegram on hearing reports of his return with the rediscovery of the Belcher Islands conf1rmed; and he shot back a reply that included a proposal of marriage." She herself wrote in a self-profile for the tenth reunion of her Bryn Mawr class in 1915:
The couple had three children. Frances worked alongside her husband on several of his films, including Louisiana Story
(1948
), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Story. She appeared in a feature-length documentary on her and her husband's film work Hidden and Seeking (1971) directed by Peter Werner. She died on June 22, 1972, in Dummerston, Vermont
.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
maker Robert J. Flaherty
Robert J. Flaherty
Robert Joseph Flaherty, F.R.G.S. was an American filmmaker who directed and produced the first commercially successful feature length documentary film, Nanook of the North...
from 1914 until his death in 1951.
Frances Johnson Hubbard was born in Bonn, Germany into "a household of erudition, gentility, and privilege," the daughter of Lucius L. Hubbard (1849-1933), who was studying mineralogy at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, and his wife Frances (1852-1927). She met Robert Flaherty in 1903 in Painesdale, Michigan
Painesdale, Michigan
Painesdale is an unincorporated community in Houghton County, Michigan, United States. Painesdale is located in Adams Township along M-26, southwest of South Range. Painesdale has a post office with ZIP code 49955.-History:...
, where he was employed by her father; the two fell in love, but Flaherty, then "a lumberjack-handyman... of no means and few expectations," was dismissed by her father, after which Frances had a nervous breakdown and was treated at a sanatorium in Dansville, New York
Dansville, Livingston County, New York
Dansville is a village in the town of North Dansville in the eastern part of Livingston County, New York, United States. As of the census, the village population was 4,832. The village is named after Daniel Faulkner, an early settler. Interstate 390 passes next to the west side of the village.-...
, while Flaherty went to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Frances visited him there during the summer of 1908, but the two quarreled, and Frances broke their engagement and went back East.
Over the next few years, she "traveled to New York and Paris to continue her conservatory training in music and piano, and in 1911 she visited the West Indies and South America." On November 12, 1914, she married Flaherty in a civil ceremony in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; it is not clear how their relationship was renewed: "Legend has it that she sent him a congratulatory telegram on hearing reports of his return with the rediscovery of the Belcher Islands conf1rmed; and he shot back a reply that included a proposal of marriage." She herself wrote in a self-profile for the tenth reunion of her Bryn Mawr class in 1915:
Coming back for a visit to my own country last July, I found myself caught by the war, and doubly caught in the toils of an old romance. I married my husband for several very plain and simple reasons: 1. Because an innate sense for the preservation of his own genius has saved him from all educational institutions or instruction of any kind. 2. Because that genius is for (a) exploration, (Profession: Exploration and Mining), and (b) music and the arts, (Avocations: playing the violin and portrait photography).
The couple had three children. Frances worked alongside her husband on several of his films, including Louisiana Story
Louisiana Story
Louisiana Story is a 78-minute black-and-white American film. Although the events and characters depicted are fictional, it is often misidentified as a documentary film. In fact, it is a docufiction. The script was written by Frances H. Flaherty and Robert J. Flaherty, and also directed by Robert...
(1948
1948 in film
The year 1948 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Laurence Olivier's Hamlet becomes the first British film to win the American Academy Award for Best Picture.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :...
), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Story. She appeared in a feature-length documentary on her and her husband's film work Hidden and Seeking (1971) directed by Peter Werner. She died on June 22, 1972, in Dummerston, Vermont
Dummerston, Vermont
Dummerston is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,915 at the 2000 census. Dummerston is home to the longest covered bridge still in use inside the state borders of Vermont.-History:...
.
External links
- Frances Hubbard Flaherty: A True Seer, Memorial Tribute presented August 29, 1972 at the 18th Annual Robert Flaherty Film Seminar by D. Marie Grieco