Anne Brewster describes the relationship between herself and Charlotte Cushman starting at the beginning of the 1840s as an "intimacy" and "intimate friendship". Together they were reading plays and preparing for Charlotte's performances on stage.…
Emma Stebbins writes to Anne Whitney and addresses Charlotte Cushman's precarious state of health.
Credit
Wellesley College Archives, Papers of Anne Whitney (MSS.4)
The Graphic contributes a positive review of Stebbins's biography of Charlotte Cushman and values its insights into Cushman's domestic life.
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19th Century U.S. Newspapers
Emma Stebbins writes to Anne Whitney from Edinburgh to inform her about Charlotte Cushman's state of health. Stebbins hopes to be able to return to Rome soon.
Credit
Wellesley College Archives
Anne Whitney shares intimate knowledge about acquaintances and discusses aspect of Rome's infrastructure and nature. She reports that Charlotte Cushman and Emma Stebbins leave Rome and announces Cushman's readings in the coming fall. Apparently,…
Mary Marble mentions the collection of short biographies to Lyman Beecher Stowe when he is working on a biography of Cushman.Duyckinck's work comments on the lives of various artists and authors. The biographies include drawings/paintings of the…
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…
Cushman writes to the Fields of travel arrangements and complications which were experienced along the road and of a potential meeting in London. She informs them about the rooms she would like for her travel companions and herself, asking James to…
Cushman ponders reading Longfellow's Judas Maccabaeus with an orchestra and informs Annie that Emma Stebbins' sister is with her to be nursed at the moment.
Credit
Huntington Library, James Thomas Fields Papers and Addenda
Charlotte is on a picnic with Emma Crow's boys and admires the villa and the garden. She talks about the books she has been reading and compliments James' book which she perceives "as genial as [himself]". Annie recommended a public reading which…
Cushman suffers from her strained vocal chords, a cancelled reading event, and the resulting financial loss. She draws James Fields's attention to a 'Peace Saga' that Cushman wants him to publish in the Atlantic. She explicitly mentions that she…
Annie Fields has fallen ill and frightened Cushman, who answered with a short and hastily written note.
Credit
Huntington Library, James Thomas Fields Papers and Addenda
Cushman informs Annie about her travel itinerary. She hopes that James and Annie will meet her in Swampscott and join her on an excursion to the Isles of Shoals. Cushman is looking for a piece of land to build a house on.
Credit
Huntington Library,…
Cushman asks Annie to forward an extract to Mrs. Alfer on her behalf since she has been rather forgetful lately. She also tells Annie how tiresome it is to sign so many autograph papers.Credit
Huntington Library, James Thomas Fields Papers and…
Cushman informs the Fields family about her plans of traveling and her looking for a house for Emma Cushman. Her fondness for the Hunt family, in addition to her indecisiveness about whether she should retire from the stage or go back to it, are…
Cushman laments the fact that she was unable to answer Annie Fields's note from Scotland as she has been occupied. She notes that she has not been able to meet with James yet and hopes to see him in the future. Cushman also mentions both Emmas who…
Cushman caught a cold but hopes that she will be well enough to show up at the theater on Monday.
Credit
Huntington Library, James Thomas Fields Papers and Addenda
Charlotte Cushman becomes widely known on both sides of the Atlantic as the first successful US-American actress. Earlier, she was a singer under the tutelage of James G. Maeder, married to actress Clara Fisher, in Boston. Charlotte has been the sole financial support of her mother since her father…