Browse Items (972 total)

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 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…

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…

"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…

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…

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 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, 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 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…

Howe's Memories of a Hostess (1922)

Howe edited some of Annie Fields's diary entries. Some entries refer to some events and letters that are part of the Fields Papers, which can also be accessed in this collection.The diary entries mention Stebbins as Cushman's "guest[]," and Cushman's…

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,…

Bradford's "Charlotte Cushman" (1925/1932)

In his biography Biography and the Human Heart (1932), Bradford republished the article (The North American Review, Vol. 221, No. 827 (Jun. - Aug., 1925)) as a chapter. Other biographical chapters covered Walt Whitman or Henry Longfellow, for…

Barrett's Lecture "Charlotte Cushman" (1889)

A Lecture by L. Barrett, with an Appendix Containing a Letter from Joseph N. Ireland
The quote from Barrett given in Waters's biography of Cushman shows that Barrett was a great admirer of Cushman.

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Stillman's The Autobiography of a Journalist (1901), Vol. 1

Charlotte Cushman is mentioned on pages 359-365.Cushman and her "clique" (365) included Miss Stebbins, Harriet Hosmer, "and one or two others of lesser fame" (359).He states that she used her fame or even Stillman (critic) to denounce other sculptors…

Price's A Life of Charlotte Cushman (1894)

Credit Nineteenth Century Collections Online

Mary Howitt's An Autobiography (1889)

The autobiography was edited by Howitt's daughter. It briefly mentions Cushman, "her intimate friend, Eliza Cook," and their style of dressing in "a very masculine style"

Waters' Charlotte Cushman (1882)

The biography is part of an American Actor Series. It focuses on Cushman's stage career and includes letters, lists of performances and casts, advertisements of Cushman's performances, as well as articles. The Fields are, for instance, not mentioned.…