Eliza Lanesford Cushing
Eliza Lanesford Cushing was a notable nineteenth-century American playwright and poet, born in Massachusetts. Growing up in a family deeply immersed in literary and religious culture, she was influenced by her mother, Hannah Webster Foster, one of the first American novelists, and her father, John Foster, a well-known pastor. Cushing's literary career flourished between 1839 and 1845, during which she published several biblical-themed works in **The Literary Garland**, a significant Canadian magazine of the time. Her two most recognized creations include the biblical play *Esther* and the romantic drama *The Fatal Ring*.
Following her immigration to Canada with her husband, a physician, Cushing faced the challenge of supporting herself after his death in the 1840s. In response, she collaborated with her sister Harriet Vaughn Cheney to launch *Snow Drop*, one of the first periodicals aimed at young girls in Canada and the United States. This monthly publication focused on the social and domestic roles of women and exclusively featured works by Canadian female authors, marking a significant contribution to educational literature for young readers. Cushing later became the editor of *The Literary Garland* until it ceased operations due to competition from more affordable U.S. publications.
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Eliza Lanesford Cushing
Playwright
- Born: October 19, 1794
- Birthplace: Brighton, Massachusetts
- Died: May 4, 1886
- Place of death: Canada
Biography
Eliza Lanesford Cushing, a nineteenth century playwright and poet, was born in Massachussetts. Throughout her childhood, Cushing and her sisters were heavily influenced by literary and religious works, probably introduced to them by their parents: Hannah Webster Foster, one of the first American novelists, and John Foster, a very popular pastor who had several of his sermons published. From 1839 to 1845, Cushing published several prose and dramatic works based on biblical themes in The Literary Garland, the most important Canadian periodical of its time. Two of her most significant works are the biblical play Esther and the romantic drama, The Fatal Ring.
In the mid-nineteenth century, she immigrated to Canada with her husband, who was a doctor. After the death of her husband in the 1840’s, Cushing was forced to make her own living. As a result, Cushing, in collaboration with her sister Harriet Vaughn Cheney, began one of the first periodicals in Canada and the United States for children, titled Snow Drop. This work, a monthly periodical, was written for girls age six to twelve and contained materials relating to young women’s social and domestic roles. As editors of Snow Drop, Cushing and her sister only solicited and published materials written by Canadian women. Thus, Snow Drop was credited as being the first educational periodical that presented young readers with contemporary works from native Canadian-based authors. In 1850, Cushing became editor of The Literary Garland until cheaper periodicals from the United States drove it out of business.