Featured Acquisition: Photographic portraits of Charlotte Cushman, an important actress

Charlotte Cushman (1816-1876) was the most famous actress in the world during the mid-1800s. The Library of Congress recently acquired two rare photographic portraits of the actress that will complement her papers which are held by the Library’s Manuscript Division.

Charlotte Cushman’s acting career spanned four decades. She was, beyond a doubt, the most popular actress of her time. She performed as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Queen Katherine in Henry VIII, and even Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. While performing in Washington, Cushman’s audience included President Lincoln and William H. Seward. Cushman died of breast cancer on February 17, 1876.

The Library purchased a rare half-plate daguerreotype portrait of Cushman in a vignetted bust pose, made in the 1850s. (There are only twelve extant daguerreotypes of Charlotte Cushman.) This is the only known vignetted daguerreotype portrait of the actress. This artistic style, where the portrait is framed by a black border, was made by only a few studios. [View image and description]

The acquisition also includes a unique half-plate ambrotype portrait of Cushman wearing an elaborately embroidered dress. This is the only known ambrotype of Cushman. It was made in 1859. [View image and description]

The Library’s Manuscript Division holds Charlotte Cushman’s papers–a collection of approximately 10,000 items. The collection includes letters to family, friends, and celebrities, including Edwin Booth, Julia Ward Howe, and William T. Sherman, as well as scripts, souvenir programs, and reviews [view catalog record for Cushman Papers ].