Browse Items (30 total)

"Come Home Father"

Illustration from T. S. Arthur's 1854 temperance novel, "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room," which was subsequently adapted into a bestselling play.

Tags: children, drama, illustration, novel, play, T. S. Arthur, temperance, ten nights in a bar-room, theater

Lost Museum Archive, "The Drunkard"

A recreation of a poster for "The Drunkard" at Barnum's American Museum.

Tags: barnum, Barnum's american museum, drama, museum, nineteenth century, P. T. Barnum, play, temperance, the drunkard, theater

Lost Museum Archive, Abstinence Pledge

A recreation of the temperance pledge that may have been given to audience members at Barnum's American Museum.

Tags: barnum, Barnum's american museum, drama, nineteenth century, P. T. Barnum, temperance, temperance pledge, theater

"Signing the Pledge" tableau diagram

In his popular parlor guide The Sociable, George Arnold included a three-part series of temperance tableaux that contrasts the impact of alcoholism on…

Tags: drama, George Arnold, nineteenth century, parlor drama, parlor guide, tableaux, temperance, the sociable, theater

George Melville Baker

George Melville Baker (1832-1890) was a playwright and publisher based in Boston. He first worked for Lee & Shepard publishers before establishing his…

Tags: Boston, drama, George baker, George melville baker, nineteenth century, parlor drama, parlor guide, playwright, publishing, temperance, theater

George Melville Baker, The Temperance Drama

George Melville Baker’s collection features eight original temperance dramas that were also published separately “for the convenience of performers.”…

Tags: blackface, drama, farce, George baker, George melville baker, nineteenth century, parlor drama, parlor guide, temperance, theater

Lost and Saved

With words by poet and songwriter Eben Rexford and music by singer, teacher, and composer T. Martin Towne, Lost and Saved was quite elaborate,…

Tags: cantata, chicago, drama, Illinois, musical, nineteenth century, parlor drama, temperance, theater

Recitations and Dialogues for Bands of Hope

This book is the second volume of selections for young people to recite at Band of Hope meetings. It contains solo recitations and dialogues for…

Tags: band of hope, Britain, children, children's literature, dialogue, elocution, England, lecture, lyceum, oratory, poetry, public speaking, recitation, story, temperance

William Darrah, The Onward Reciter, 1872

The Onward Reciter is a product of the Band of Hope movement in Northern England, specifically Lancashire and Cheshire. Most of the selections were…

Tags: band of hope, Britain, children, children's literature, elocution, England, lecture, lyceum, nineteenth century, oratory, poetry, recitation, story, temperance, youth group

J. N. Stearns, The Temperance Speaker, National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1876

The Temperance Speaker represents an American-produced contribution to the vast offerings of juvenile temperance “reciters.” It was published by the…

Tags: children, children's literature, dialogue, elocution, lecture, literature, lyceum, national temperance society, nineteenth century, oratory, poetry, public speaking, recitation, story, temperance, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history