Browse Items (972 total)
Sort by:
Reed's and Powell's Happy Women (1913)
A chapter praises the "first great American actress" who came to "immortal fame" as "genius." Cushman is described as dedicated to her work which brought her happiness after an early disappointment in love. She is characterized as a woman of honor,…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, February 22, 1858
This letter is the first one available from the time after Charlotte Cushman's breakup with Matilda Hays. It is a prime example of Charlotte's longing for Emma Crow whom she met shortly before this correspondence at the beginning of…
Letter from Ned Cushman to Susan Muspratt, n.d. [before June, 1854]
The letter describes Ned Cushman's experience in the Naval Academy, Annapolis. It also mentions Charlotte, his aunt, who should have arrived in England at the time.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library…
Letter from Ned Cushman to Susan Muspratt, n.d. [before June, 1854]
In this letter, Ned Cushman mentions Hays and Charlotte Cushman's friendship ("friends"). He tells his mother about financial concerns and gossip-related incidents both at the Naval Academy as well as the dangers for girls at boarding…
Letter from Ned Cushman to Susan Muspratt, Oct 27, 1853
The letter sums up Ned's experience of the beginning at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He writes that he wanted to quit, he reports health problems and exam results. He also briefly alludes to Cushman's relationship with Hays. The letter…
Letter from Edwin Cushman to Charlotte Cushman, Jan 14, 1852
In his letter, Edwin justifies not writing to his mother Susan. He tells Charlotte about an affair that some family friends wanted to hide from her as they were afraid of her reaction. Eventually, he sends love to Hays which indicates that Hays and…
"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…
Anonymous Fan Letter
In this anonymous, undated letter, signed "a friend," a fan of Cushman professes her (?) admiration for the actress and then explains how she found solace in her faith. She recommends Cushman does the same.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Feb 25, [1858]
Charlotte writes to Emma Crow about her feelings for her. Apparently, Emma is very fond of Charlotte and Charlotte fears that she cannot meet Emma's expectations. Charlotte also hints at her troubled relationship with Mrs Kemble and mentions 'little…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Mar 31, 1858
In this letter, Charlotte reassures Emma of her love. She promises to visit Emma soon. Charlotte mentions Harriet Hosmer who is trying to find a winter residence in Rome for Cushman. At the end of the year, Charlotte would eventually move to Via…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Feb 3, 1858
This letter is most likely the first one that Charlotte sends to Emma after they met in St Louis, MO, and fell in love. The preceding week, Charlotte had to leave for Cairo and Emma had prepared basket full of food. Cushman mentions the age gap and…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, July 5, 1858
Once again, Charlotte confesses her love to Emma very explicitly. Her letter is written in the night between July 4 and July 5, 1858. Cushman explains to Emma why Emma often does not hear from the actress for weeks. Charlotte emphasizes the…
Edwin Booth
He is an actor an theater owner as well as the brother of Lincoln's murderer John Wilkes Booth. His father is Junius Booth. He is first married to Mary Devlin and later to Mary McVicker.
Kate Field
Kate Field is a US American journalist who lives in Rome at the same time as Charlotte Cushman. She has been familiar with Cushman even as a child, as her mother Eliza Riddle Field played with Charlotte Cushman in Romeo and Juliet.Field is born in…
Frances Power Cobbe
Cobbe stayed with Hosmer and Cushman in Rome, 38 Via Gregoriana, during her Italian travels in 1861/62.Commenting on the role of Rome for independent women, Cobbe publishes Italics: Brief Notes on Politics, People and Places in 1864.In vol. 2 of her…
Grace Greenwood
Grace Greenwood is the pen name of Sara Jane Clarke Lippincott. Lippincott often signs her letters with her pseudonym. Greenwood travels Europe (for a certain period of time, she also travels with Cushman) in 1853 and publishes Greenwood Leaves with…
Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Mrs Stowe and Her Neighbors in Rome," Lowell Daily Citizen and News, July 23, 1860
Originally, the article was published in the New York Independent on July 12, 1860. Stowe describes social gatherings in Via Gregoriana in Rome. She explicitly mentions Cushman's household, Stebbins, and Hosmer, who are living together. The short…
Featured Item
Charlotte Cushman
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…