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Greer Garson¹

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Also Known As	Greer Garson was also known as Eileen Evelyn Greer Fogelson.
Also Known As	She was also known as Eileen Evelyn Greer Ney.
Also Known As	She was also known as Eileen Evelyn Greer Snelson.
Also Known As	She was also known as Greer Garson.
Note	Event Memos from GEDCOM Import... Biography Greer Garson was christened as Eileen Evelyn Greer and was born in East Ham, London. In 1930, Eileen Greer Garson first appears on the electoral register, and she is there at Tillotson Road until 1935. According to some fantastic information provided by Peter and Ann Kraushaar who now live at 5 Tillotson Road ( which he and his wife bought in 1959 from the widow of Peter Gray who had previously bought the property from Greer's mother in 1936/37 ), the move in 1935 appears to coincide with her debut in the West End London theatres after her university and 1932/33 Birmingham Repertory Theatre experience. She became the symbol of a nation unconquered by Adolf Hitler. She was educated at London University and at Grenoble. She gained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from London University. Greer worked in a London advertising firm 1932-1934 and then with a Birmingham company for two seasons; her debut was in 'Street Scene'[:ITAL]. Her London stage debut was in 1934 in "The Tempest"[:ITAL], then opposite Sir Lawrence Olivier[:BOLD] in the short lived "Golden Arrow"[:ITAL]. She then had starring roles in "Mademoiselle", "The Visitor",[:ITAL] and "School for Scandal"[:ITAL]. In 1938, she was spotted by Louis B. Meyer in "Old Music"[:ITAL]; she signed for MGM and made her screen debut in "Goodbye Mr. Chips". [:ITAL] In 1940 she starred in "Pride and Prejudice[:ITAL]". She then appeared in the very early BBC television of Shaw's "How He Lied to Her Husband"[:ITAL]. In 1941, she starred opposite Walter Pidgeon[:UND] in "Blossoms in the Dust"[:ITAL]. She made many radio programs and many early TV appearances, but her main achievements were the nominations for Best Actress for "Blossoms in the Dust"[:ITAL], the second world war ( 1942 ) drama "Mrs. Miniver[:ITAL]" ( for which she won an Academy Award[:BOLD] ), "Madame Curie"[:ITAL] in 1943, "Mrs. Parkinson"[:ITAL] ( an unfortunate irony ) in 1944, "The Valley of Decision"[:ITAL] in 1945 and "Sunrise at Campobello"[:ITAL] in 1960. The personification of Louis B. Meyer's ideal of British refinement and beauty, Greer Garson was the Queen of MGM during the World War II years. In 1993, she was awarded the insignia of an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire which she received from the British Consul-General in Dallas. It was the reporting of this event in the press that gave me the idea on how to contact Miss Garson. I sent a letter to the British Consul in Dallas enclosing an unsealed letter to Miss Garson, asking the Consul to pass it on to her - as he obviously knew how to get in touch. This he did, and a few weeks later, I received a wonderful letter from Greer Garson - well, she dictated it through her Office Manager, as she is quite frail. In this letter of June 1994, Greer explains that she thinks she met Edward in the theatre, but it was all a long time ago. She remembers that " Edward had an elder sister who was quite beautiful and a younger brother ", but she cannot remember their names. The letter is printed on her personal letter heading, so it's quite a treasure - it's not every day that I receive personal mail from film stars - and she was gorgeous and so refined, wasn't she ! Peter Kraushaar also has sent to me a photocopy of a photograph of a group said to have been taken on the occasion of a play given by the East Ham Grammar School, with young Eileen Garson appearing in the centre of the front row. Peter records that she was also a member of the East Ham Operatic Society. She deplored the violence in modern films, and donated millions of dollars ($US10m) to the Greer Garson theatre and film archive at Southern Methodist University - although she was a devout Presbyterian.
User Reference Number	She; 1613
Biography	See notes.2
Nickname	She; Eileen Evelyn Greer
Education	She was educated She was educated at the University of London, where she earned degrees in French and 18th-century literature. She intended to become a teacher, but instead began working with an advertising agency, and appeared in local theatrical productions., She was educated at the University of London, where she earned degrees in French and 18th-century literature.
Birth	She was born on 29 September 1904 in 88 First Avenue, Manor Park, East Ham, London, Essex, Northern Ireland, Her parents were evidently Presbyterians.3Evidently, she was descended from Rob Roy McGregor.[:CIT].
	Her father George Garson died about 1909.
Residence	She resided in Greer's Farm, Castlewellan, Nr Newry, County Down, between 1917 and 1920 Rather than "living" here full time, it might be better to say that she was a frequent visitor with he mother. Of all the awards she won, she once said her most treasured possession was still a pearl pendant which she wore in the Presbyterian church at Castlewellan in 1917, when her aunt Eva wed Dr.Robert Murray of Glasgow.
Education	She was educated in Grenoble, Switzerland, about 1930 [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Student]], She received full scholarships from a local school to attend the University of London, where she won honours studying French and 18th century literature on an accelerated course, with secretarial classes for backup.
Occupation	She was a market researcher for an advertising firm in London. She gave up this job to study with the Birmingham Repertory theatre and played in the provinces for two years before reaching the London stage., market researcher for an advertising firm in London. about 1931.
Residence	She resided in 2 Audley Square, Mayfair, London W.1., in 1933 3This has been the address since 1921 of the University Women's Club ( est 1865 ), and still is. Perhaps GG stayed here on the eve of her wedding ? This is the hypthesis put forward by Peter Kraushaar and his wife Anne.[:CIT].4
Marriage	Greer Garson and Sir Edward Alec Abbott Snelson, K.B.E.M.A., were married on 28 September 1933 in the Registry Office, St. George, Hanover Sq, London, In Greer Garson's biography "A Rose for Mrs. Miniver" Edward is described as a "rich and dashing young undergraduate".5,6
Occupation	She was a film actress in London and America. Many of the early plays in which she appeared were flops, but she was always praised for her talent, drive and professionalism. Envious associates or rivals dubbed her "Ca-Reer-Garson" ... an unfortunate, odious and somewhat cruel and undeserved tag that followed her to Hollywood. Whether she was ruthless in her ambition, I am not in a position to judge., a film actress in London and America. after 1935.
Divorce	Greer Garson and Sir Edward Alec Abbott Snelson, K.B.E.M.A., were divorced in 1942 They had separated shortly after marrying in1934.7,5
Marriage	Greer Garson and Elijah E. ('Buddy') Fogelson were married in 1949.
	Her mother Nina Sophia Greer, (MacGregor), died about 1958 in St. John's Hospital, Hollywood.
	Her husband Elijah E. ('Buddy') Fogelson died in 1987.
	Her former husband Sir Edward Alec Abbott Snelson, K.B.E.M.A., died on 8 December 1992 in Bentley, Hants, England.
Residence	Greer Garson resided in Suite 2040, 325 N Saint Paul, Dallas, in 1993.8
Residence	She resided in 3232 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1210, Dallas, 214-922-8001 fax 214-953-0249, in 1994.9
Death	She died on 6 April 1996, at age 91, in Dallas, USA.
Burial	Greer's remains were buried on 9 April 1996 in Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, in the Fogelson Triangle, Dallas, USA, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Buried]].

Citations

1. [S569] Greer Garson - Profile of Career
2. [S1179] A Rose for Mrs. Miniver
4. [S681] Peter Kraushaar, Letter 20 March 1994
5. [S475] New York Times, 30th Sept 1942, Page 29 Col 4
6. [S139] Letter from Richard James Snelson dated 19 April 1989
7. [S559] Death Notice - The Times 10 December 1992
8. [S654] Letters from Peter Kraushaars dated September & November '93
9. [S699] Letter from Greer Garson, June 1994

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Sir John Savage

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Citations

1. [S626] A. J. BOSTOCK, History of the Bostock Family