Browse Items (243 total)

  • Collection: Gossip Columns and Columnists

"Letters from the Capital," by Grace Greenwood, National Era, 1852

Grace Greenwood offers a glowing review of Cushman's performances in Washington, D.C. (as Romeo and Rosalind respectively) that stresses the sexual undertones of her audience's attraction to the actress (e.g. "She compells your half-bewildered…

Excerpt from Grace Greenwood's "Sketch from Life" (1849)

Greenwood writes a sketch about Henry Elliot. The (auto)biographical account is published by Sara Josepha Hale in an edited collection called The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days (1849). Credit New York Public Library

Letter from Grace Greenwood to John G. Whittier, Sept 9, 1849

Greenwood writes to Whittier about her Greenwood Leaves, the first series is about to be published by Ticknor & Fields. She laments that she is only allowed to include stories but no letters. Ticknor and Fields, however, offered her to publish a…

Letter from Grace Greenwood to Mr. Welles, Dec 30, 1859

Greenwood informs the addressee about the whereabouts of people she knows such as Sarah J. Hale and Mrs. Browning. Credit New York Public Library

Letter from Grace Greenwood to Mr. White, April 12, 1850

Greenwood lets the addressee know that she is "more deeply interested in them [=distinguished people] by the representations of some common friends." Credit New York Public Library

"The World's Newspapers," The Daily Picayune, Nov 25, 1894.

Greenwood, speaking from her travel experience and stays abroad, evaluates the French, Italian, and English press in comparison to the US-American. In the context of a changing press culture, she also indulges in a long speech against…

Greenwood Leaves, Second Series, 1852

Greenwood publishes her letters in a second series of her Greenwood Leaves.For instance, letter no. 12 is published in the National Era, Sept 23, 1852.The first series was published two years earlier, in 1850. Credit Archive.org

Grace Greenwood's "An American Salon," Feb 1890

Greenwood introduces Gamaliel Bailey (editor of The National Era since 1847) and his wife as hosts of the respective salon to the reader. She touches upon senators and the abolition cause, social life in Washington by giving away stories about…

Greenwood's Haps and Mishaps of a Tour in Europe (1854)

Greenwood gives a detailed account of her journey through Europe, including dates and tourist sights. She also includes accounts of dinner parties, for instance. She characterizes the people participating in social gatherings for the reader.She also…

"Letters from the Capital," National Era, Feb 13, 1851

An example of one of Greenwood's letters reporting about the political life in Washington DC Credit Newspaper.com

"Letters from the Capital," National Era, Jan 15, 1852

An example of one of Greenwood's letters reporting about the political life in Washington DC Credit Newspaper.com

"Royal Gossip," Chicago Tribune, Aug 20, 1876

In a reprint from the New York Times, Greenwood writes about the garden parties of the Princess of Wales. The report describes the royal family in terms of appearance and gestures, discusses who is sitting where, and mentions who Greenwood was…

"Flunkyism in Washington," San Francisco Examiner, Jan 25, 1878

The reprint from The New York Times covers the "gay season" of Congress with its receptions. Greenwood is "disgusted with the flagrant flunkeyism shown here toward the occupants of the White House" and criticizes the hesitation with which the…

"The Queen Loves Bare Shoulders," San Francisco Examiner, Mar 28, 1886

The San Francisco Examiner publishes one of Greenwood's letters. In a witty account, Greenwood comments on the royal etiquette. Credit Newspaper.com

"London in Midsummer," Kansas City Star, Aug 22, 1888

Greenwood sketches how actress Lillie Langtry made it "from idle to laborious display" in a witty comment on social gossip. Credit Newspaper.com

Letter from Grace Greenwood to James Fields, Feb 1, 1854

Greenwood explains why she has not replied to Fields' previous letter sooner. She compliments his new edition of poems, calling it "a perfect love of a book as well as a book of loves." She questions, however, why he has not included Moonrise at Sea…

Letter from Grace Greenwood to James Fields, Jan 3, 1854

Greenwood provides Fields with a list of names and addresses he should send copies to in her place. Fields should sign the copies going across the sea with "with regards from the author." Credit Huntington Library, James Thomas Fields Papers and…

Letter from Grace Greenwood to James Fields, Nov 21, 1853

Greenwood informs Fields that she sent a cake by express. It should have been posted much sooner but she has been "so excessively busy." The box, in which the cake is contained, is a rather tight fit so Fields should handle the cake carefully.…

Letter from Grace Greenwood to James Fields, Nov 1, 1853

Greenwood asks Fields for more money because she wants to make a few purchases "necessary [...] to keep up a respectable bridal appearance." She does not want to ask her husband as he is busy with The Little Pilgrim.Greenwood informs Fields that she…