Introduction
GILBERT STUART (1755–1828), Portrait of Jeremiah Allen, ca. 1808, oil on panel
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT, “An Act for preventing Stage-Plays, and other Theatrical Entertainments,” 1750
JOSEPH TISDALE (1736–68), “Against the bill then before the House, for preventing stage plays, and other theatrical entertainments,” June 6, 1767
A Theater? YES! John Quincy Adams
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767–1848) to John Adams (1735–1826)
A Theater? NO! John Hancock
CALEB H. SNOW, Engraving of the Federal Street Theatre
ANONYMOUS PRINTER, A Broadside for a play performed at the Federal Street Theatre
HENRY BROOKE (1703–83), Gustavus Vasa: a tragedy, in five acts, as performed at the New Theatre in Boston, Boston: [Printed for] John West, no. 75 Cornhill, 1794
JOHN DEVERAL (engraver), Boston Theatre Award Medal, 1794
SAMUEL HILL (1765–1809) (AFTER WILLIAM LOVETT), “Mr. Baker as Gustavus,” line engraving
OLAUDAH EQUIANO (1745–97), The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or, Gustavus Vassa, the African—written by himself, Belper: Printed and published by S. Mason, 1809 [1789]
WILLIAM CHARLES WHITE (1777–1818), Orlando: or Parental Persecution: a tragedy, Printed at Boston: By John Russell--And sold at his office, Quaker-Lane; and by W.P. & L. Blake, no. 1, Cornhill, 1797
Judith Sargent Murray and Susanna Haswell Rowson
CONSTANTIA (JUDITH SARGENT MURRAY [1751–1820]), “On the Equality of the Sexes,” The Massachusetts Magazine: or Monthly Museum, Boston: March 1790
JUDITH SARGENT MURRAY, The Medium or Virtue Triumphant, in The Gleaner, Volume 3, Boston: Thomas and Andrews, February 1798
JUDITH SARGENT MURRAY, The Traveler Returned, in The Gleaner, Volume 3, Newbury Street: Thomas and Andrews, February 1798
JUDITH SARGENT MURRAY to MERCY OTIS WARREN (1728–1814), Autographed Letter, March 1796
SUSANNA HASWELL ROWSON (1762–1824), Slaves in Algiers, or A Struggle for Freedom, Philadelphia: Wrigley and Berriman, 1793
WILLIAM COBBETT (1763–1835), “A Kick for a Bite; or Review upon Review; with a Critical Essay, on the works of Mrs. S. Rowson,“ Philadelphia: Bradford, 1795
CITIZEN SNUB [JOHN SWANWICK (1740–98)], “A Rub from Snub, or a Cursory Analytical Epistle: Addressed to Peter Porcupine,“ Philadelphia, 1795
SUSANNA HASWELL ROWSON, Trials of the Human Heart, A Novel, Philadelphia: Wrigley and Berriman, 1795 [facsimile]
ANONYMOUS PRINTER, Broadsides for the Haymarket Theatre, 1796–1803
ANONYMOUS, “The Burning of the Federal Street” Theatre, 1798, watercolor on paper [facsimile]

CALEB H. SNOW, Engraving of the Federal Street Theatre

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Image of etching of Federal Street Theatre

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Forgotten Chapters of Boston's Literary History

The First Seasons of the Federal Street Theatre: 1794–1798

CALEB H. SNOW, Engraving of the Federal Street Theatre

CALEB H. SNOW, Engraving of the Federal Street Theatre in A History of Boston: The Metropolis of Massachusetts, from its Origin to the Present Period; with Some Account of the Environs, Boston: Abel Bowen, 1825