Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1462

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.4 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Henry Peterson manuscript plays, circa 1870s-1891, Ms. Coll. 1462, Box 1, [Folder #], Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

circa 1870s-1891 (inclusive)

Form:

Plays (performing arts compositions) and Writings (document genre)

Abstract:

Henry Peterson (1818-1891) was an author, poet, playwright, and the editor of the Saturday Evening Post. This collection consists of six hand-written manuscripts of plays that appear not to have been published.

Henry Peterson was born on December 7, 1818, the son of George, a merchant, and Jane (Burr Evans) Peterson. The family appears to have been literary-minded with at least three of the ten children working as either editors or publishers. Henry Peterson appears to have been raised in Philadelphia and worked in a hardware store before becoming the editor of the Saturday Evening Post, serving in that capacity for twenty years. In addition to his work as an editor, Peterson was an author, writing fiction, poetry, and plays.

In 1842, he married Sarah Webb (1820-1891) of Wilmington, Delaware, who served as editor of The Lady's Friend. They had nine children; and their son, Arthur Peterson (1851-1932), worked as assistant editor of the Saturday Evening Post, and editor of Peterson's Journal.

Henry Peterson's best known works include: Modern Job (1869), Pemberton, or, One Hundred Years Ago (1873), and Faire-Mount (1874). He also published poems and wrote about abolition.

Peterson died on October 10, 1891, in Philadelphia, at the age of 73.

This collection consists of six hand-written plays authored by Henry Peterson. These plays do not appear to have been published, however, several include notes that copyright was secured. The plays are arranged in alphabetical order.