Browse Items (635 total)

Cushman's first professional appearance as Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, April 1835

On April 8, 1835, Cushman made her debut on the stage at the Tremont Theatre in Boston in the role of Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. While Cushmam's performance seemingly betrayed her nerves, contemporary reviews praised her…

Baltimore Gazette and Daily Advertiser, April 17, 1835

Gazette 1835 April Cushman Opera.PNG
One of the earliest public notices of Charlotte Cushman's performances: A short notice of her first professional appearance in the opera The Marriage of Figaro (April 1835 in Boston). The article mentions that "Mrs Wood had expressed herself [...]…

Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Sept 13, 1836

CCP 11, 3312-3313, Fisher to CC, Sept 13, 1836.pdf
Fisher presents himself as a great admirer of Charlotte Cushman. He offers her his 'services' in terms of press coverage, e.g. in the Philadelphia papers, and supporting her in her career ambitions. Credit Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman…

Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Oct 7, 1836

CCP 11, 3310, CC to Fisher, Oct 7, 1836.pdf
Fisher asks Charlotte Cushman to refrain from contacting him again. He expresses a firmly rooted disappointment in and aversion to society ("a scandal loving world"). Fisher touches upon an issue of Cushman being involved ("intimacy") with the…

Letter from E. B. Fisher to Charlotte Cushman, Oct 8, [1836]

CCP 11, 3311, Fisher to CC, Oct 8.pdf
Fisher describes himself as an unworthy correspondent to Charlotte Cushman. He praises her talent as an actress and apologizes for past mistakes without specifying what he is talking about. He agrees to her request that they should not meet…

"Pistols for Two", Freeman's Journal, Dec 22, 1842

1842. Freemans Journal. Duel anticipated.pdf
This article describes an antagonistic relationship between Charlotte Cushman and Madame Celeste. It indicates that an intellectual duel between the two could be anticipated. Credit The British Library Newspapers, Gale Digital Collections

Letter from Thomas Colley Grattan to Charlotte Cushman, n.d. [1843]

CCP Box 11 Grattan to CC.pdf
The letter has no date on it but is addressed to Cushman in Philadelphia and talks about her performing together on stage with Macready in New York and Philadelphia, which suggests that the letter could be written in fall 1843. Thomas Grattan regrets…

New York Herald, Tuesday, Jan 3, 1843.

New York Herald (New York, New York, Tuesday, January 03, 1843; Issue 3 - Baltimore - annotated.pdf
Letter to the editor section, reports by New York Herald correspondent Ariel in Baltimore section Credit 19th Century U.S. Newspapers

The New York Herald, Jan 15, 1843

The New York Herald (New York, New York, Sunday, January 15, 1843 - annotated.pdf
Credit 19th Century U.S. Newspapers

Pennsylvania Inquirer and National Gazette, Feb 1, 1843

Pennsylvania Inquirer and National Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, February 01, 1843; Issue 27.pdf
Published in the category of communication, signed by "E."The article mentions the genius of Cushman as well as the struggle of the theater profession to gain public appreciation. Interestingly, the article speaks about Cushman's "private worth" that…