American Art & Antiques
Lot 351:
William Americus Field was a Boston musician that played for the Symphony Orchestra for nine years. Field was associated with thirteen Boston theaters, six military bands, and seven grand orchestras. He also contributed writings about “Old Boston” to the Boston Evening Transcript. This diary/ledger/journal details his musical career from 1852 -1890. It was described as the drummer’s diary in an article published in the Boston Evening Record (June 15, 1889). William Field tells about Boston’s past and music history along with his concert travels and sightings of notable people.
Notable entries include:
Page 50, Feb 19, 1861 – Abraham Lincoln saw and heard him in Troy Depot
Page 55, Feb 24, 1855 – Halloway tries an American Orchestra, which proved a failure
Page 64, March 4, 1853 – Played with father’s band at Franklin Pierce’s inauguration ball
Page 68, March 8, 1862 – Colonel Frederick W. Lander funeral (likely his burial, his funeral was held in Washington)
Page 108, April 17, 1855 – Harvard Athenaeum Richard III – Elder Adams was minister and a bad actor.
Page 153 June 1, 1865 – President Lincoln funeral in Boston
Page 167 June 15 – 20, 1869 – National Peace Jubilee (Boston celebration of end of Civil War)
Page 169 June 17 – July 4, 1872 – World’s Peace Jubilee
Page 285 Oct 11, 1882 – President Arthur at Globe Theater
Page 291 October 17, 1864 – Lincoln flag raising
Page 301 Oct 27, 1984 – Lincoln torch light
Page 367 begins the review of his musical career
Page 374 begins his life story
Page 379 Feb 24, 1855 John Halloway attempted to have an orchestra of exclusively American talent
Page 386 Dec 8, 1860 black face for first time
Page 386 Feb 19, 1861 saw Abraham Lincoln (good old Abe)
Page 391 June 1, 1865 Abe Lincoln funeral (Boston)
Page 391, August 1-3, 1865 Saw General Grant at Bowdoin College Commencement in Maine
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