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COLLECTION Identifier: MS Thr 1139

Letters sent to the Boston Museum

Overview

Letters sent to R. M. (Richard Montgomery) Field, manager of the Boston Museum, from various members of the theatrical profession.

Dates

  • 1864-1891

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is shelved offsite at the Harvard Depository. Retrieval requires advance notice. Readers should check with Houghton Public Services staff to determine what material is offsite and retrieval policies and times.

Collection is open for research.

Extent

9 linear feet (18 boxes)

Manuscript and typescript letters from members of the theatrical profession sent to R. M. (Richard Montgomery) Field (1834-1902), the manager of the Boston Museum from 1864-1898. Primarily letters from theatrical agents, actors, musicians, and other performers concerning securing engagements at the Boston Museum.

Biographical / Historical

Boston Museum (1841-1846 and 1846-1903), the first theater was at Tremont and Bromfield Streets, second at Tremont Street, between Scollay Square and School Street. Boston Museum (1846-1903) was a performance hall that also housed a gallery of curiosities, best known for its wax tableaux, music programs and displays from the New England Museum. Proprietor/managers included Moses Kimball (the first), R. Montgomery Field, and E. F. Keach.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.

Physical Location

Harvard Depository

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2006MT-252r. Gift of unknown source; received: date unknown.

Processing Information

Processed by: Bonnie B. Salt

Title
Boston Museum (1847-1903), recipient. Letters sent to the Boston Museum, 1864-1891: Guide.
Author
Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
und
EAD ID
hou02606

Repository Details

Part of the Houghton Library Repository

Houghton Library is Harvard College's principal repository for rare books and manuscripts, archives, and more. Houghton Library's collections represent the scope of human experience from ancient Egypt to twenty-first century Cambridge. With strengths primarily in North American and European history, literature, and culture, collections range in media from printed books and handwritten manuscripts to maps, drawings and paintings, prints, posters, photographs, film and audio recordings, and digital media, as well as costumes, theater props, and a wide range of other objects. Houghton Library has historically focused on collecting the written record of European and Eurocentric North American culture, yet it holds a large and diverse number of primary sources valuable for research on the languages, culture and history of indigenous peoples of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Houghton Library’s Reading Room is free and open to all who wish to use the library’s collections.

Contact:
Harvard Yard
Harvard University
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2440