Notable Lesbians
This week’s Notable Lesbian is:
Ada Dwyer Russell
1863 - 1952
Ada Russell was a Mormon actress of the stage. She pe
rformed on stage in Broadway and London. Russell married, and was widowed, and in 1909 met writer Amy Lowell. The two entered into long-term lesbian relationship, or a “Boston marriage” (the term for a 19th century romantic female relationship) beginning in 1912, which would last until Lowell’s death in 1925. Russell was the subject of many of Lowell’s explicit poems, such as the Taxi. Russell was also the executrix of Amy Lowell’s will, and burned all her items upon request.
Interesting tid bit:
In “The Taxi,” Lowell conveys a strong sense of her separation from Russell and her pain. Lowell also left her fortune in a trust to Ada Russell.
The Taxi
When I go away from you
The world beats dead
Like a slackened drum.
I call out for you against the jutted stars
And shout into the ridges of the wind.
Streets coming fast,
One after the other,
Wedge you away from me,
And the lamps of the city prick my eyes
So that I can no longer see your face.
Why should I leave you,
To wound myself upon the sharp edges of the night?
Don’t forget about the Lez Keep it Real Contest! It’s still going on people because I haven’t had enough submissions. Submit and you can win!
More Notable Lesbians
If you have a suggestion for a Notable Lesbian, e-maill me at lyndsey.darcangelo@451press.net or use the contact form above and I’ll highlight her in an upcoming post.
*Some information provided by Wikipedia.com
Ada Dwyer Russell, notable lesbians, amy lowell, the taxi
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