A Commanding Presence

Brought forward for the Vintage Photos Theme Park theme of "Hold It - people holding something." Rather strangely, she's holding a book.
Opera singer? Actress?
Taken at Pach Bros. Studio.
935 Broadway, New York
Apparently, Pach Brothers was a famous New York studio that took a lot of Broadway photos. It was founded in the 1860s and went through to the 1950s, at least.
No other identifying information.

Found photo in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.

She has a strong, lovely face, I think.