Boston Museum (1847-1903)

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The Boston Museum was a theater and museum displaying collections of natural curiosities.

From the description of Boston Museum broadside, 1861 Dec. 14. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 319961599

Originally housing a gallery of curiosities and wax tableaux in addition to its theatrical features, the first Boston Museum was built in 1841 by Moses Kimball. The original Boston Museum, known as the Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts, became so successful that a second building was erected on Tremont Street in 1846, and performances continued there until 1903. Prominent actors at the Boston Museum included Edwin Booth, E.H. Sothern and Mrs. J.R. Vincent. Here was also where the American premiers of several Gilbert and Sullivan operas were seen, notably, "H.M.S. Pinafore" on November 25, 1878.

From the description of Programs, 1844-1903. (Boston Athenaeum). WorldCat record id: 32828818

Known as the Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts from 1841-1847, the Boston Museum, a theater and museum displaying natural curiosities, closed in 1903.

From the description of Boston Museum theatre broadsides, 1849-1850. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122485044

Musical performances were given at the museum beginning in 1841, and dramatic performances began in 1843. The final season was 1902-1903. Proprietor/managers included Moses Kimball (the first), R. Montgomery Field, and E. F. Keach.

From the description of Correspondence of the Boston Museum, 1864-1898 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 612378800

Known as Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts from 1841-1847, and the Boston Museum from 1847-1903. This was a theater and museum displaying a collection of natural curiosities. Musical performances were given at the museum beginning in 1841, and dramatic performances began in 1843. The final season was 1902-1903. Proprietor/managers included Moses Kimball (the first), R. Montgomery Field, and E. F. Keach.

From the description of Boston Museum cast lists, 1845-1898. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 612800841

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives. North American 19th century theatre broadside collection, 1850-1867. George Mason University, Fenwick Library
referencedIn New England Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts. Records of the New England Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts, 1818-1848 (inclusive). Houghton Library
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Boston Museum theatre broadsides, 1849-1850. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Kimball, Moses, 1809-1895. Letters received, 1840-1878. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Boston Museum broadside, 1861 Dec. 14. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: Musical and theatrical programs, 1794-1937 (inclusive), 1845-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Boston Museum Stock Company. Boston Museum Stock Company Kate Ryan Nolan collection of photographs, 1876-1889. Houghton Library
referencedIn Skinner, Cornelia Otis, 1901-1979. Promptbooks for productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth, 1757-ca.1920. Houghton Library
referencedIn Kimball, Moses, 1809-1895. Moses Kimball receipts, 1864-1865. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Boston Museum cast lists, 1845-1898. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Stebbins, N. L. (Nathaniel Livermore), 1847-1922,. Stage manager's office, Boston Museum [graphic] / N.L. Stebbins, Photo. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Correspondence of the Boston Museum, 1864-1898 (inclusive). Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Browning, Bruce F. Bruce F. Browning - Boston Theater Collection, 1895-1920. Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Stebbins, N. L. (Nathaniel Livermore), 1847-1922,. [Auditorium of the Boston Museum] [graphic] / N.L. Stebbins, photo. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Boston Museum Company correspondence, 1864-1884 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Mammen, Edward William, 1907-. Edward William Mammen papers, 1940-1946. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Stebbins, N. L. (Nathaniel Livermore), 1847-1922,. Green room, Boston Museum [graphic] / N.L. Stebbins, Photo. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Daily record of receipts and performances, 5th to 9th seasons, 1847 Aug. 23-1852 March 31. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Hackett, Norman. Promptbooks for productions of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, 1804-1905. Houghton Library
creatorOf Dell, Robert M. Robert M. Dell - Theater Program Collection, 1882-1983, (bulk 1882-1952). Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Broadside Playbills, 18th-20th century Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special CollectionsRare Book Division
referencedIn Heister, George. George Heister papers, 1838-1892. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Boston Museum autographs acknowledging payment in full, 1891-1896. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Receipts, 1856 Dec. 8-15. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Boston Museum programs, 1844-1848. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Boston Museum box office account book, 1884-1885. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Broadside playbills collection, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Princeton University Library
referencedIn George Heister papers, 1838-1892 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Moses Kimball receipts, 1864-1865 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Field, R. M. (Richard Montgomery), 1834-1902. Boston Museum Company correspondence, 1864-1884. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Waters, Richard P. (Richard Palmer), 1807-1887. Richard P. Waters Papers, 1831-1939. Peabody Essex Museum
creatorOf Boston Museum (1847-1903). Programs, 1844-1903. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Field, R. M. (Richard Montgomery), 1834-1902. Autograph letters signed from Richard Montgomery Field, Boston Museum, to Augustin Daly [manuscript], 1868-1895. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Stebbins, N. L. (Nathaniel Livermore), 1847-1922,. [Grand Hall of the Boston Museum] [graphic] / N.L. Stebbins. Boston Athenaeum
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barrett, Lawrence, 1838-1891. person
associatedWith Barrymore, Maurice, 1849-1905. person
associatedWith Booth, Junius Brutus, 1821-1883. person
associatedWith Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Boston Museum Stock Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Boucicault, Dion, 1820-1890. person
associatedWith Brougham, John, 1810-1880. person
associatedWith Browning, Bruce F. person
associatedWith Brown, T. Allston 1836-1918. person
associatedWith Bryant, Dan, 1833-1875. person
associatedWith Byron, Henry J. 1835-1884. person
associatedWith Campbell, Bartley Theodore, 1843-1888. person
associatedWith Crabtree, Lotta, 1847-1924. person
associatedWith Craig, Robert, 1842- person
associatedWith Crist, Henry, 1844-1882. person
associatedWith Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899. person
associatedWith Davenport, Edward Loomis, 1815-1877. person
associatedWith Davenport, Fanny, 1829-1891. person
associatedWith Dell, Robert M. person
associatedWith DeWitt, Robert M. person
associatedWith Drew, Louisa Lane, 1820-1897. person
associatedWith English, E., d. 1875. person
associatedWith Fawcett, Owen, 1838-1904. person
associatedWith Fechter, Charles, 1824-1879. person
associatedWith Field, R. M. 1834-1902. person
associatedWith Field, R. M. (Richard Montgomery), 1834-1902. person
associatedWith Florence, William Jermyn, 1831-1891. person
associatedWith Ford, John Thomson, 1829-1894. person
associatedWith Fox, George Washington Lafayette, 1825-1877. person
associatedWith George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Gilbert, John, 1810-1889. person
associatedWith Gilbert, W. S. 1836-1911. person
associatedWith Goodwin, J. Cheever 1850-1912. person
associatedWith Heister, George. person
associatedWith Herne, James A., 1839-1901. person
associatedWith Howard, Bronson, 1842-1908. person
associatedWith Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920. person
associatedWith Jones, J. S. 1811-1877. person
associatedWith Kimball, Moses, 1809-1895. person
associatedWith Kiralfy, Imre, 1845-1919. person
associatedWith Lacy, Thomas Hailes, 1809-1873. person
associatedWith Leclercq, Carlotta, 1836-1893. person
associatedWith Logan, Olive, 1839-1909. person
associatedWith MacKaye, Steele, 1842-1894. person
associatedWith Mammen, Edward William, 1907- person
associatedWith New England Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Palmer, Albert Marsham, 1838-1905. person
associatedWith Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Reignolds, Emma. person
associatedWith Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 person
associatedWith Rowe, George F. person
associatedWith Schonberg, James. person
associatedWith Selwyn, John H., 1836-1873. person
associatedWith Sothern, Edward Askew, 1826-1881. person
associatedWith Stebbins, N. L. (Nathaniel Livermore), 1847-1922, person
associatedWith Sullivan, T. R. 1849-1916. person
associatedWith Tompkins, Orlando. person
associatedWith Tyler, George H., d. 1884. person
associatedWith Warren, William, 1812-1888. person
associatedWith Waters, Richard P. (Richard Palmer), 1807-1887. person
associatedWith Winslow, Catherine Mary Reignolds, d. 1911. person
associatedWith Young, Alfred W., d. 1876. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts--Boston
Massachusetts--Boston
Massachusetts--Boston
Massachusetts--Boston
Louisiana
Massachusetts--Boston
Massachusetts--Boston
Massachusetts--Boston
United States
Massachusetts--Boston
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Plantations
Playbills
Racially mixed people
Slavery in literature
Theater 19th century
Theater management
Occupation
Activity
Theatrical managers

Corporate Body

Information

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