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Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, June 29, 1869
Cushman has received an important business note from Wayman Crow, who is shaken by his sister's death. She hopes that Ned will ease his anxieties by taking on some of his work. Cushman also asks Emma to send her Longfellows' translation of…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, Sep 29, 1865
Cushman has been anxious about the delivery of Ms. Jane's laces. She has been enjoying her peaceful stay in Wales, away from the noise of the city, and praises Miss Lloyd's efforts as a hostess. Sally has already left to attend to matters in…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, Aug 1869
Cushman is delighted about Ned's letter as "his reasoning is clear, wise and sensible." She has put on her corsets, which give her a lot of support but cause some pain across her chest.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers,…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, Aug 22, 1869
Cushman's leg is slowly getting better yet is still swollen and inflamed. She offers a home remedy for toothache for Emma's baby.Ned is returning to Boston on August 31. Cushman advises him to borrow money upon his return as the conversion from gold…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Olive Risley, Sep 12, 1868
Cushman hoped to be able to invest in the Seneca Stone Quarry but Wayman Crow who is managing her finances disagreed and declined her wish. She comments, " as a woman, I am somewhat at the mercy of a man, who is supposed, & I hope with justice, —…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Hanson A. Risley, July 2, 1869
Charlotte Cushman finds herself in a "poor & nervous state of health" and seeks treatment in England. She turns to Risley for business advice submitting to gender steretypes: "I can not know so much about business as if I were a man."She also…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Mr. Child, June 23, 1871
Cushman was pleased by students' speeches at the commencement at Vassar College. In this context, she adds her thoughts on women's suffrage:"I want every woman & every man who earns the money which pays hers [sic] or his rent & knows how to…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to George Combe, Nov 21, 1845
Cushman presents herself as shocked and surprised at the "gross motive [that] might be attributed" to her performance of Romeo on stage together with her sister Susan: "your hints have only plunged me into trouble — for I find the subject, in a new…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, Dec 5-6, 1862
As Emma Crow Cushman is married and busy decorating and furnishing her house, Charlotte Cushman thinks nostalgically of more frequent and longer "old time letters." Repeatedly, Charlotte mentions that Emma's husband, and Charlotte's nephew and…
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to King, n.d.
Cushman mocks the gendered criticism of her figure and riding skills.
Credit
Houghton Library
Emma Crow Cushman's Memoir about Charlotte Cushman: "A Memory" (1918)
Emma Crow Cushman emphasizes that she knew Charlotte Cushman "intimately." Emma and Charlotte met in 1858 when Charlotte brought two letters of introduction (by Hosmer and Kemble) to her father in St. Louis. Emma describes her as a "great artist and…
Excerpt from Louisa Drew's Autobiographical Sketch of Mrs. John Drew (1899)
The autobiography describes Cushman as Maeder's pupil and displays two photographs of Cushman performing as Romeo and as Mrs. Haller. The autobiography compares Madame Celeste's farewell performances to those of Cushman.The autobiography was…
Duyckinck's Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women of Europe and America (1872-1874)
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…
Letter from Kate Field to Charlotte Cushman, Mar 15, 1860
Kate Field talks about her thoughts on Italian and American patriotism and how there is nothing quite like American boys and girls. Furthermore, she seems very content with the circle of people she has herself surrounded by, and mentions Casa Cushman…
Letter from Kate Field to Emma Crow, July 10, 1860
Field admits her disappointment in not being able to see Romeo (referring to Charlotte Cushman) and her Juliet, Emma Stebbins. She addresses Cushman with the pronoun 'he.' In a witty account, Field teases Crow about her age, heritage, and appearance.…
Criticism of Cushman's Performance as Romeo, May 29, 1847
Article or chapter that is dismissive of the Cushman sisters performing Romeo and Juliet; The article describes the 1845 performance as "disgustingly monstrous grossness of such a perversion" by the "transatlantic sisters." Without mentioning their…
"Masculine Women," Liberator, Jan 15, 1858
Mrs. Frances D. Gage criticizes an article in the Home Journal about the masculinity of women in jobs associated with men. She publishes her article in the Missouri Democrat, the article given here is a reprint, and takes Harriet Hosmer as her prime…
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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…