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Website with 681+ pages devoted to 1903 Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago

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Ray School in Chicago

America's worst theater fire took place at a holiday performance of Mr. Bluebeard in Chicago on December 30, 1903, at the city's newest luxury playhouse, the Iroquois Theater.

Schoolteacher Daisy Livingston was among the nearly six hundred fatalities. Her sister Jennie survived.

(This page is about one of two parties named Livingston at the Iroquois. Read about the other party at: The Livingston — Regensburg — Straus party.)

Forty-two-year-old Jean "Jennie" Livingston (1861–19??) and her sister, Daisy Livingston (1879–1903) were the daughters of the late Elliza and Thomas Bain Livingston (1840–1900), a Chicago picture frame manufacturer. Thomas had emigrated from Scotland at age twenty and founded his business in 1892.

Jennie worked as a bookkeeper and manager in her father's company, T. B. Livingstone Co., at 44-46 West Quincy in Chicago. The firm employed forty workers and offered retail refurbishing in addition to manufactured items.

Daisy taught at Ray Elementary school. Her funeral was held on January 2, 1904, at her brother's home at 273 Oakwood Blvd. (Hope to learn more about Daisy later.)

Another teacher from the May school lost her life at the Iroquois Theater, Florence O. White, and two students, Taylor Dryden and Bessie Boice.

Chicago William H. Ray elementary school at 57th and Monroe c1903

In 1914 the Ray school students and staff were moved a block away to the Ray school's present structure on South Kimbark Avenue (the former Hyde Park High School structure). Ray's original structure on 57th and Monroe was sold and in the 1940s torn down to make Bixler Park.

Discrepancies and addendum

*Jean and Daisy had three brothers, Dr. Archibald "Archie" T. Livingston (b.1875), Thomas Livingston Jr. (married to Mary) and John K. Livingston (married to Flora), as well as a sister, Katherine Livingston (b.1866), who was also a teacher. The Livingston family lived at 358 40th St in 1900 and later moved to 1023 Chicago Ave. After her siblings married, Jennie operated the home as a small boarding house.

8 in Moore party of 9 perished

Mary Holst and her three children

James Cummings Iroquois Theater stage carpenter

Other discussions you might find interesting

Story 2946


A note about sourcing.  When this project began, I failed to anticipate the day might come when a more scholarly approach would be called for.  When my mistake was recognized I faced a decision: go back and spend years creating source lists for every page, or go forward and try to cover more of the people and circumstances involved in the disaster.  Were I twenty years younger, I'd have gone back, but in recognition that this project will end when I do, I chose to go forward.  These pages will provide enough information, it is hoped, to provide subsequent researchers with additional information.


I would like to hear from you if you have additional info about an Iroquois victim, or find an error, and you're invited to visit the comments page to share stories and observations about the Iroquois Theater fire.


Judy Cooke 2024 All rights reserved ©