Ida Benfey Judd ( – February 14, 1952) was an American educator, elocutionist, and monologist, billed as "The American Storyteller"."Miss Ida Benfey, The American Storyteller"
(brochure, 1900-1910) in ''Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century'' (University of Iowa Libraries). She founded the Mark Twain Association, and was its first president.

Early life

Ida Benfey was born ca. 1858-59 in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, the daughter of Delia M. and Louis Benfey. She and her older sister Myra lost their mother when they were 11 and 13 years of age, respectively. She studied elocution at the Michigan State Normal School in

Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsilanti ( ), commonly shortened to Ypsi ( ), is a college town and city located on the Huron River in Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's popu ...

, and graduated from the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

in 1883.Ida Benfey Judd papers
Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. Her sister Myra married Waldo S. Waterman, son of California governor Robert W. Waterman, in 1887 and died of

consumption Consumption may refer to: * Eating *Resource consumption *Tuberculosis, an infectious disease, historically known as consumption * Consumer (food chain), receipt of energy by consuming other organisms * Consumption (economics), the purchasing of n ...

later that year.

Career

Judd was a popular speaker at community events, schools, and in theaters, especially in New York City, where she was based, but also on national tours. Of her interpretation of ''

The Book of Job The Book of Job (), or simply Job, is a book found in the Ketuvim ("Writings") section of the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Poetic Books in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The language of the Book of Job, combining post-Babylonian ...

'', a signature piece in her wide repertoire, the ''Times'' noted that "Miss Benfey has taste, understanding, and uncommon powers of expression, and her new undertaking cannot fail to interest many persons." She was also known to read works by women writers; an 1896 recital included texts by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman and

Ruth McEnery Stuart Ruth McEnery Stuart (1849–1917) was an American author. Early life and marriage She was born Mary Routh McEnery Stuart, child of James and Mary Routh (Stirling) McEnery in Marksville, Louisiana. (She changed the spelling of her name to "Ruth ...

, with both authors in the audience. At the 1920 centennial commemoration of

George Eliot Mary Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Anne or Marian), known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrot ...

held at a

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, Judd performed scenes from ''

The Mill on the Floss ''The Mill on the Floss'' is a novel by English author George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann Evans, first published in three volumes on 4 April 1860 by William Blackwood and Sons. The first American edition was published by Harper & Brothers, Pub ...

'', accompanied by a trio of women musicians. ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...

'' and ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' were other popular texts for Benfey's performances. She also told Chinese folk tales, recited Socrates, and read Mark Twain essays and stories. Judd taught public speaking and elocution at

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) is the graduate school of education affiliated with Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, Teachers College has been a part of Columbia University since ...

; among her students was political strategist

Belle Moskowitz Belle Moskowitz ( Lindner, Israels; October 5, 1877 – January 2, 1933) was a Jewish-American Progressive Era , progressive reformer and political advisor in the early 20th century. She worked as a political advisor and publicist to New York (s ...

. In 1926, Judd founded the Mark Twain Association, to promote the study and reading of Twain's work. She was the association's longtime president, organizing contests, raising funds, and corresponding with writers and publications. In the 1930s, she organized Great Literature Across the Footlights, to promote cultural literacy through dramatic presentation in prisons and reformatories and summer camps.

Personal life and death

Ida Benfey married George W. Judd, a lawyer. She died in

Ossining, New York Ossining ( ) is a town located along the Hudson River in Westchester County, New York. The population was 40,061 at the time of the 2020 census. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which ...

on February 14, 1952, at the age of 93. Her papers are archived at the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress a ...

. Her Mark Twain Association was still meeting annually in New York City in 1990.Andrew L. Yarrow
"Weekender Guide"
''The New York Times'' (April 6, 1990).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Judd, Ida Benfey 1850s births Year of birth uncertain 1952 deaths American educators University of California alumni People from Detroit