Marjorie Virginia Harwood

Marjorie Virginia Harwood

Marjorie V Harwood Kemp

• Father: John L. Harwood b. 1869
• Mother: Martha Belle Dart b. circa 1874

• Marjorie Virginia Harwood was born on 12 November 1895 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.
• John L. Harwood and Martha Belle Dart appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 591 West Avenue. Other members of the household included Marjorie Virginia Harwood.
• John L. Harwood and Martha Belle Dart appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1905 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 314 Fargo Avenue. Other members of the household included Marjorie Virginia Harwood.
• Frederick W. Constantine and Sarah Virginia Stuart appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 193 Norwood Avenue. Other members of the household included Marjorie Virginia Harwood, Martha Belle Dart.
• She married John Garnett Stephenson, son of Thomas B. Stephenson, on 11 March 1915 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at West Utica Avenue, at the home of the bride's grandparents, with the Rev. Richard Boynton officiating. They divorced not long afterward.
• The following appeared on 13 March 1915 in the Buffalo Courier: Mrs. Martha Harwood announces the marriage of her daughter Marjorie Virginia to John G. Stephenson of this city, which took place Thursday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Constantine in West Utica street, grandparents of the bride, the Rev. Richard Boynton officiating.
• Frederick W. Constantine and Sarah Virginia Stuart appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1915 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 394 West Utica Avenue. Other members of the household included Marjorie Virginia Harwood, Martha Belle Dart and John Garnett Stephenson.
• The following appeared on 28 May 1916 in the Buffalo Courier: John G. Stephenson has issued invitations for a musicale this afternoon at his studio, No. 468 Elmwood avenue, near Hodge avenue. This will be the first pupils' recital Mr. Stephenson has given since he took up his residence in Buffalo some four years ago.
       Mrs. Stephenson has a mezzo soprano voice of lovely quality, and Mr. Emery, baritone, has won considerable success in concert. These singers will be assisted by Mme. Casassa and William J. Gomph at the piano. The programme reads: . . .
• Marjorie Virginia Harwood appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in New York City, New York, at 76 West 94th Street lodging in a large rooming house.
• She was self-employed as a concert singer, according to the 1920 census.
• She applied for a passport on 12 November 1920 while living in New York City, New York, at 165 West 31st Street. for the purpose of traveling "to Finland to act as American Correspondent for Mr. F. A. Kemp, formerly Chief American Representative for the A. B. Machinery Co. of Abo, Finland and now Chief Engineer in the Home Office of the A. B. Machinery Co. of Abo, Finland. She will be employed at Abo, Finland." (Supporting letter written by Saul Goodwin, 12 November 1920.) Passport was issued on 17 November.
  
  
  to Sweden, Finland and England, scheculed to depart from the port of New York on board the SS Stockholm on 9 December, intending to return to the United States within one year. The passport was issued 17 November 1920.
• She married Fritz Alexader Kemp on 7 October 1922 in Abo, Finland.
• She applied for a passport on 19 May 1924 while living in Abo, Finland, at Kristineg 1.
• The following appeared on 15 September 1924 in The Buffalo Morning Express: (Dansville, Sept. 14) A concert was given by Mrs. Majorie Harwood Kemp, soprano, and Mrs. Helen Garrit Mening, both of Buffalo, in the auditorium of the Johnson hotel and health resort here yesterday. Mrs. Kemp, who has recently returned from Europe, where she spent three years in the study of Scandinavian songs, gave a novel programme of Finnish and American songs.
       Mrs. Kemp has a delightful voice and ability and elicited much praise from the audience. Mrs. Mening gave an admirable accompaniment.
       Dansville critics proclaim the concert the best that has been heard here in years.
• The following appeared on 16 November 1924 in The Buffalo Sunday Express: Marion Davies in her latest photoplay Yolanda is the attraction at Shea's Hippodrome today. . . The Hippodrome Symphony orchestra, under the direction of Harry Wallace, will play a special symphonic jazz arrangement of May-time by M. Lake. An extra musical attraction is the first public appearance here in many seasons of Marjorie Harwood Kemp, soprano. Although a Buffalo singer, Miss Kemp has spent much of her time abroad and her home town folk will be glad of this opportunity to welcome her. . . .
• The following appeared on 19 July 1925 in The Buffalo Sunday Express: Well known Buffalo soprano active during summer. Marjorie Harwood Kemp, Buffalo dramatic soprano, is taking a limited number of pupils during the summer and fall months.
       Through her knowledge of the different schools of technique and interpretation, Miss Kemp is well equipped to teach voice culture. She studied for a number of years with Mr. Gandenzi of New York city and spent two years abroad, studying in Paris and coaching for several months in German lieder with the capellmeister of the opera in Hamburg.
       Miss Kemp sings in eight languages, including Scandinavian. While abroad Miss Kemp appeared as soloist with symphony orchestras as well as filling other concert engagements. Since her return she has done much concert work in this country.
• The following appeared on 31 October 1925 in The Buffalo Morning Express: Marjorie Harwood Kemp has been engaged as solo soprano at the North Presbyterian church, succeeding Hildred Morrow, who leaves for a new home in Louisville, Tenn., in the deep regret of all who new her, musically and personally. Mrs. Kemp assumes the duties of the position tomorrow.
• The following appeared on 9 May 1926 in The Buffalo Sunday Express: Club World . . . The Quota Club will have a Mothers' day program tomorrow at the Statler. Reservations, Gertrude Weber. The speaker will be Mrs. Richard Noye, secretary of the American Red Cross. Mrs. Margery Harwood Kemp will sing her tribute to mother.
       The annual meeting of the Society of Mineral Painters will be at the home of Mrs. Frederick W. Constantine, No. 113 Anderson place, tomorrow at 2:30 o'clock. Mrs. William A. Booth and Mrs. J. Whitney Vogt will assist the hostess. Officers will be elected.
• The following appeared on 23 August 1926 in the Dansville Breeze: Miss Marjorie Harwood gave a recital at the Jackson Hotel, with Miss Marian Voss, accompanist, last evening at eight o'clock. . . Miss Marjorie Harwood is a concert soprano formerly of Buffalo. She spent four years in Europe studying concertizing and appeared as soloist with Symphony orchestras there. She sings in nine languages and since returning to the United States has filled many concert engagements in Western New York as well as in New York city. . . .
• She apparently resumed using the name "Marjorie Harwood" beginning in 1926-1927. According to one family researcher, she was three times married.
• The following appeared on 14 June 1928 in the Buffalo Evening News: The 32nd annual convention of the General Assembly of Spiritualists, State of New York, will open Thursday evening with a dinner in Hotel Statler ballroom. Miss Marjorie Harwood, opera singer, formerly of Buffalo and now a resident of New York, will be the soloist. The convention will close Sunday evening with a public service.
       Horace Leaf, F. R. G. S., London, England, representing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the British Spiritualists, will be the principal speaker. . . .
• She was known as Mara beginning sometime after the 1920s.
• The following appeared on 2 August 1929 in the Dunkirk Evening Observer: Mara Jore, the operatic star, arrived from New York city to commence her engagement on the Lily Dale platform next Sunday.
• She married Carlton Melvin Roberts on 5 September 1931 in Lake George, Warren County, New York.
• The following appeared on 11 October 1931 in The Buffalo Courier-Express: Mrs. Martha B. Harwood announces the marriage of her daughter, Marjorie Virginia of New York, to Dr. Carlton M. Roberts of Buffalo at Lake George on September 5th. Dr. and Mrs. Roberts will be at home at the Hyde Park apartments, North street, after October 15th.
• The following appeared on 14 October 1931 in the Perry Herald: Mrs. Martha B. Harwood of Buffalo announces the marriage of her daughter, Marjorie Virginia to Dr. Carlton M. Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts will be at home in the Hyde apartments, 196 North street, Buffalo, after October 15.
       Dr. Roberts is the son of W. J. Roberts of the village.
• The following appeared on 14 October 1931 in the Perry Herald: Mrs. Martha B. Harwood of Buffalo announces the marriage of her daughter, Marjorie Virginia, to Dr. Carlton M. Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts will be at home in the Hyde apartments, 196 North street, Buffalo, after October 15.
       Dr. Roberts is the son of W. J. Roberts of this village.
• The following appeared on 18 October 1938 in the Erie County Independent: Mara Jore, soprano singer, probably better known to the people of Hamburg as Marjorie Harwood Roberts, is arranging to conduct vocal classes here in the near future.
       Marjorie Harwood Roberts is the great-granddaughter of Mr. Stewart and the granddaughter of Mr. Constantine who both resided in Hamburg. At an early age she became interested in music and studied in America and Europe, under such personages as Reni Van Rhym of the opera in Brussels and Armando Agniui of the Metropolitan Opera company, Dr. Buschkotter of the Hamburg opera, and is accomplished in German, Italian and French.
       Music lovers of Hamburg have had many opportunities of enjoying her singing as she has entertained at the Buffalo club, the Buffalo Athletic club and has presented recitals for the Hamburg Women's club besides numerous radio broadcasts.
• The following appeared on 14 February 1940 in the Buffalo Courier-Express: Justice John V. Maloney yesterday reserved decision on the application of Attorney George W. Wanamaker for $500 tin counsel fees for representing a defendant in a pending action for annulment of marriage.
       Wanamaker is representing Marjorie V. Roberts, who now is separated from her husband, Dr. Carlton M. Roberts of 468 Delaware Avenue, the plaintiff. The attorney seeks to have the husband pay the fees. Wanamaker's motion was contested by Philip Catalano, representing Dr. Roberts.
• Frederick W. Constantine appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 43 Norwood Avenue. Other members of the household included Marjorie Virginia Harwood, Martha Belle Dart.
• She was self-employed at home as a voice and language teacher, according to the 1940 census.
• The following appeared on 9 February 1942 in the Buffalo Courier-Express: Mrs. Christine Skarynska, a Polish refugee, will speak on her experiences in Poland and France during the last five months at the meeting of Les Amis de la France on Sunday afternoon at the International Institute.
       Mrs. Grover W. Knels is program chairman, and Mrs. Robert E. Schraven is chairman of hostesses. Mrs. Mara Jore Roberts, music chairman, will present Miss Orpha Deering, soprano, who will be accompanied at the piano by Miss Bessie Goldstein.
• Marjorie Virginia Harwood died on 16 March 1948 at age 52 in Manhattan, New York, at Knickerbocker Hospital.
• She was interred at Fresh Pond according to her death record.
• The following appeared on 18 March 1948 in the Buffalo Courier-Express: Formerly a voice teacher in Buffalo, Mrs. Marjorie Harwood Roberts died Tuesday in Knickerbocker Hospital, New York. She lived with her mother, Mrs. Mattie Belle Harwood, at 6 East 36th St., New York City.
       A native of Buffalo, Mrs. Roberts was graduated from Lafayette High School and studied voice both here and abroad. She was a dramatic soprano with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra in 1923. While in Buffalo, Mrs. Roberts was a member of the Chromatic Club and Les Amis de la France. Her father, John Harwood, Lancaster, also survives.

• Last Edited: 20 Jul 2017