Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894

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Theater executive and dramatist.

From the description of John Thompson Ford papers, 1809-1960 (bulk 1850-1894). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71132530

Theater manager, Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Alexandria and Richmond, Virginia.

Managed Ford's Theater, Washington, D.C., when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated there.

From the description of Letter : Baltimore, [Md. to J.B.] Wright, 1863 Dec. 20. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 30607637

Biographical Note

  • 1829, Apr. 16: Born, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1849: Married Edith Branch Andrews
  • 1851 - 1854 : Agent for the Nightingale Serenaders, a minstrel troupe Correspondent for the Baltimore Clipper
  • 1854 - 1855 : Formed a partnership with George Kunkel and Thomas Moxley in leasing the Holliday Street Theatre, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1856 - 1861 : In partnership with George Kunkel and Thomas Moxley, managed Marshall Theatre, Richmond, Va.
  • 1858: Elected to First Branch City Council from the fourteenth district, Baltimore, Md.
  • circa 1861: Became sole manager of the Holliday Street Theatre, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1862: Built Ford's Athenaeum, Washington, D.C.
  • 1863: After Ford's Athenaeum burned down, rebuilt it as Ford's New Theatre (later called Ford's Theatre), Washington, D.C.
  • 1865: Incarcerated from April 18-May 27, following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
  • 1867: Ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Baltimore, Md.
  • 1870: Purchased the Holliday Street Theatre, Baltimore, Md. Managed Academy of Music, Charleston, S.C. Elected to Second Branch City Council from the nineteenth and twentieth district, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1871: Built Ford's Grand Opera House, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1874: Elected to First Branch City Council from the nineteenth district, Baltimore, Md.
  • 1878: Managed Broad Street Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 1894, Mar. 15: Died, Baltimore, Md.

From the guide to the John Thompson Ford Papers, 1809-1960, (bulk 1850-1894), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Davis, Henry Winter 1817-1865. Henry Winter Davis papers, 1863-1866. New-York Historical Society Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894,. Autograph letters signed from John Thompson Ford, Baltimore, to various people [manuscript], 1862-1894. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Boston Museum (1847-1903). Correspondence of the Boston Museum, 1864-1898 (inclusive). Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Cushman, Charlotte, 1816-1876. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1832-1871, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thomson, 1829-1894. Letter : Baltimore, [Md. to J.B.] Wright, 1863 Dec. 20. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Canton, Rachel L. Promptbooks for productions of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, 1834-ca.1900. Houghton Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894,. Autograph letter signed from John Thompson Ford, Ford's [Theatre], Baltimore, to [Lilian Adelaide] Neilson [manuscript], 1875 May 12. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894,. Autograph letters signed from John Thompson Ford to various recipients [manuscript], 1864-1888. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Ford, Charles Elias, 1852 or 3-1928,. Autograph letters signed from Charles E. Ford to William Winter [manuscript], 1880-1894. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Winter, William, 1836-1917,. Autograph letters signed from William Winter to various recipients [manuscript], [1884]-1894. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894. AQs, 1878 December 13 : Baltimore, [Maryland]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thomson, 1829-1894. Correspondence, 1865, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Ford, John Thompson, 1829-1894,. Autograph letters signed from John T. Ford to William Winter [manuscript], 1873-1880. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893,. Autograph letter signed from Edwin Booth to John Thompson Ford [manuscript], 1875 December 12. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Lincoln Room collection of miscellaneous papers, 1837-1924. Houghton Library
referencedIn Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893,. Autograph letters signed from Edwin Booth to various recipients [manuscript], 1858-1893. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Edward Webster McGlenen papers, 1857-1937 (inclusive), 1857-1890 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf John Thompson Ford Papers, 1809-1960, (bulk 1850-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn The Robert Cushman Butler Collection of Theatrical Illustrations Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
creatorOf Hay, John, 1838-1905. Correspondence, 1854-1914, "Fiske" to "Gilder." Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893 person
associatedWith Booth, John Wilkes, 1838-1865. person
associatedWith Boston Museum (1847-1903) corporateBody
associatedWith Burke, Charles, 1822-1854 person
associatedWith Cushman, Charlotte, 1816-1876. person
correspondedWith Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899 person
correspondedWith Daly, Joseph Francis, 1840-1916 person
associatedWith Davis, Henry Winter 1817-1865. person
correspondedWith Dorney, Richard, 1842 or 3-1921 person
associatedWith Ford, Annie. person
associatedWith Ford, Annie. Annie E. Ford papers. person
associatedWith Ford, Charles Elias, 1852 or 3-1928, person
associatedWith Ford, Lizzie. person
associatedWith Ford, Lizzie. Lizzie Ford papers. person
associatedWith Ford's Theatre (Baltimore, Md.) corporateBody
associatedWith Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Forrest, Edwin, 1806-1872 person
correspondedWith Furley, Mr. person
associatedWith Furley, Mr., 19th cent., person
associatedWith Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911. person
associatedWith Grand Opera House (Baltimore, Md.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Hackett, James Henry, 1800-1871 person
associatedWith Hay, John, 1838-1905. person
associatedWith Holliday Street Theatre (Baltimore, Md.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Jefferson, Joseph, 1829-1905 person
associatedWith Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 person
associatedWith Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 person
correspondedWith McGlenen, Edward W. (Edward Webster). person
correspondedWith Neilson, Adelaide, 1848-1880 person
associatedWith Sullivan, Arthur, 1842-1900. person
correspondedWith Tayleure, Clifton W., d. 1891 person
correspondedWith Winter, William, 1836-1917 person
associatedWith Wright, J. B., person
correspondedWith Wright, J. B. (John B.), b. 1814 person
associatedWith Young, Robert, 1927-2008, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Baltimore (Md.)
Baltimore (Md.)
United States
Virginia--Richmond
Maryland--Baltimore
Baltimore (Md.)
Washington (D.C.)
Maryland--Baltimore
Alexandria--Richmond
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
South Carolina--Charleston
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Theater
Theater
Charities
Theaters
Theaters
Theaters
Occupation
Dramatists
Executives
Activity

Person

Birth 1829-04-16

Death 1894-03-14

Information

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SNAC ID: 902875