Colleen Moore was born Kathleen Morrison on August 19, possibly in 1899 but the actual year is in debate: documents seem to indicate this, but historians suggest it was 1900 (based on driver’s license and Social Security records. However, these records relied on the person applying to provide the vital statistics), and family says 1902. She gave her birth year as 1902, though throughout this website it is assumed that 1899 is correct. She came out west at the age of 17 during a time when an actress in her mid-20s would be considered nearing the end of her career owing to the sensitivities of film stock still in wide use at the time. The orthochromatic sensitivity of common film stock rendered reds in positive prints as dark grays; this had the effect of making minor blemishes and small wrinkles very noticeable on the big screen… thus the use of heavy pancake makeup and the tendency of film companies to opt for younger actresses with fresh skin.
Photograph of the infant Kathleen Morrison |
The 1899 is based upon census records of her family from 1900 (which indicated that the family of Charles and Agnes Morrison had a daughter Kathleen who had been born in the previous year), 1910 (which backs up the information from the 1900 records) and from church records from Tampa, Florida, where she received her First Communion in May of 1911 at the age of 11.
Port Huron
Port Huron, Mich. 1894, Pauli, C. J., Milwaukee [1894]
G4114.P7A3 1894 .P3, Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA |
Colleen's immediate family (she was Kathleen back then) was small, just her father, mother, grandmother and her younger brother Cleeve. The extended family was larger. She had cousins on both her mother's and father's side of the family. In additin, her aunts on her mother's side (some of whom married well) were frequent visitors and often brought Kathleen gifts of dolls. This is where her love of dolls and dollhouses begam.
Her family moved frequently, at least once during their time in Port Huron, and from there around the east half of the country. The 1900 census records indicate that in June 1900 she was living at home with her Grandmother, her Aunt Kathleen, her Mother Agnes and Father Charles. Presumably she received her Baptism during this time, though the church records have yet to be uncovered.
Hillsdale, MI
Sometime around 1905 the family moved to Hillsdale, Michigan, for about two and a half years. This move was prior to the family relocating to Atlanta around 1908. This timing is conjecture; there are no records of the move. For stays of short duration, it's doubtful the family will have left much behind in the way of records. There was no mention of the Morrison family in the Hillsdale Democrat for the time span of their stay. The paper at the time was given over largely to local and state matters, like this small gem: Another item was as concise as any news story could be, offering both summary and commentary: “A lighted match dropping into a show window full of fireworks caused a premature celebration in a grocery store at Hudson Tuesday night. The effect was dazzling, the damage considerable.” (Hillsdale Democrat, June 30, 1905. Page 1.)
Atlanta
Atlanta.Foote and Davies Company (Atlanta, Ga.), c1919
G3924.A8A3 1919 .F6, Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA |
By 1908 the family had relocated to Atlanta, Georgia.
They are listed at three different addresses during their stay (From the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library city directories): In 1908 the family of Charles and Agnes Morrison lived at 301 Capitol Avenue. In 1909 – they lived at 41 Linden Avenue. In 1910 they lived at 240 N. Jackson Street. All large, two-story homes with front and rear galleries (Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps). In 1908 and 1910 the Morrison family would have lived within the territory of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which is probably where Kathleen went to school (though there were Immaculate Conception elementary schools, to complicate matter
s). In 1909, it is possible that Kathleen attended Sacred Heart Academy, as the Morrison home at the time would have been within their parish boundaries. . The Atlanta Constitution lists the Morrison families’, their comings and goings in the Atlanta society pages. A few mentions appear below:
*September 5th, 1909 Atlanta Constitution: page A5 “Society” “Mr. E. Elwyn Spencer, of Chicago, is the guest of his aunt, Mrs. Charles Morrison, on Jackson street.”
*September 5th, 1909 Atlanta Constitution: page A5 “Society” Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Charles Morrison have returned from Chicago (directly below other social item of 9/5/09.)
*September 9th, 1909 Atlanta Constitution: page 8 “Social Items” “Mrs. Charles Morrison has as her guest at her home on North Jackson Street her sister Mrs. Stone.”
*November 9th 1909 Atlanta Constitution: page 8 “Society” “Miss Beatrice Stone (Agnes Morrison’s sister) will be in town for the auto races. She will be the guest of Mrs. Charles Morrison.” Beatrice Stone was the mother of Jack Stone, who would later appear with his cousin in several of her films including most famously in “Lilac Time.” During this time the family lives on Jackson Street (see social item below)
*January 20th, 1910 Atlanta Constitution: page 8 “Social Items” “Mr. Charles Morrison, who has been ill at his home on Jackson Street, is better.”
*Feb 18th, 1910 Atlanta Constitution: page 8 “Social Items” “Mr. Charles Morrison has returned to the city.”
The 1910 Federal Census confirms that the family was living in Atlanta: Charles, Agnes, Kathleen, Cleeve, but not with grandmother Kelly at the time of the enumeration. Shortly after the enumeration, the family moved on to the next city: June 10th the Atlanta Constitution social page reports, “Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morrison and children and Mrs. Beatrice Stone leave today to make their home in Warren Pa.”
