Irene Harris

1st class passenger Irene "Renee" Harris (1876- 1969) was one of the lesser known but more underrated passengers on board.  She was married to Henry B. Harris who owned and managed the Hudson Theatre in New York City.  They were very devoted to each other and were travelling together on the Titanic.  She got into a lifeboat, but Henry stayed behind and died in the sinking.  Renee never really got over her husband's death and decided to carry on her husband's work, taking over the Hudson Theatre and becoming the first female Broadway producer.  She lost most of what she had including the theatre in the great depression and she went into relative obscurity afterwards.  When the Titanic Historical Society was created, it was first called the "Titanic Enthusiasts Society."  Renee asked, "What is there to be enthusiastic about?"  The name was subsequently changed.  She married 3 times afterwards, each of which ended in divorce.  She said later in life that, "I have had four marriages.  But only one husband."  

This is a very important photograph taken of Renee Harris.  This was taken in 1913, a year after she lost her husband in the Titanic disaster.  After going through her period of mourning her husband's death, she decided to take over her husband's business which paved the way for many women to go into show business afterwards.

This photo is a favorite of mine.  It's a press photo which shows Renee Harris next to the only thing she saved from the Hudson Theatre when she lost it in the Great Depression, a portrait of Henry.  

These are programs from the Hudson Theatre naming the theatre manager as "The Estate of Henry B. Harris" which is how they called it for a while until it was changed to more specifically "Mrs. Henry B. Harris."