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Lecture Schedule, 1868–1870

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This schedule, spanning volumes 2–4 of Mark Twain’s Letters, lists Mark Twain’s known lecture appearances during two tours: 17 November 1868–20 March 1869 and 1 November 1869–21 January 1870. The first was managed in the Midwest by G. L. Torbert, of Dubuque, Iowa, secretary of the Associated Western Literary Societies, and in the East by Clemens himself, with partial assistance from James K. Medbery’s American Literary Bureau in New York (L2, 241 n. 3, 254–55 n. 2). The second, an exclusively eastern tour, was managed by James Redpath and George L. Fall of the Boston Lyceum Bureau. The primary sources consulted in recreating Clemens’s itineraries were his surviving letters, Fall’s letters of 27 October and 7 December 1869 to him (Redpath Letterpress Book, 26, 632, IaU), and Fall’s 29 November 1869 “Memo of Engagements” (enclosed in 29 Nov 69 to OLL). In some instances, these documents have provided the only evidence of the date and place of a lecture. In most cases, however, information in them has been confirmed by announcements, reviews, or reports in local newspapers (unless otherwise indicated, a cited newspaper was published in the town or city where Clemens lectured).

1868–1869 Tour

date	place	source
17 Nov 68	Cleveland, Ohio	Herald, Leader, and Plain Dealer (18 Nov 68)
19 Nov 68	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Gazette (20 Nov 68)
23 Nov 68	Elmira, N.Y.	Advertiser (24 Nov 68)
2 Dec 68	Rondout, N.Y.	2 Dec 68 to Langdon (L2, 298)
9 Dec 68	Newark, N.J.	Advertiser (10 Dec 68)
11 Dec 68	Norwich, N.Y.	5 and 7 Dec 68 to OLL (L2, 315)
16 Dec 68	Scranton, Pa.	5 and 7 Dec 68 to OLL (L2, 315)
19 Dec 68	Fort Plain, N.Y.	Mohawk Valley Register (25 Dec 68)
22 Dec 68	Detroit, Mich.	Advertiser and Tribune and Free Press (23 Dec 68)
23 Dec 68	Lansing, Mich.	State Republican (31 Dec 68)
25 Dec 68	Charlotte, Mich.	Republican (30 Dec 68)
26 Dec 68	Tecumseh, Mich.	14 Jan 69 to OLL
30 Dec 68	Akron, Ohio	29 Dec 68 to Langdon (L2, 360); Cleveland Leader (1 Jan 69)1
2 Jan 69	Fort Wayne, Ind.	Democrat and Gazette (4 Jan 69)
4 Jan 69	Indianapolis, Ind.	Journal (5 Jan 69)
6 Jan 69	Rockford, Ill.	Galena (Ill.) Gazette (26 Jan 69), reprinting Rockford Register (9 Jan 69)
7 Jan 69	Chicago, Ill.	Tribune, Times, Republican, and others (8 Jan 69)
8 Jan 69	Monmouth, Ill.	Atlas and Review (8 Jan 69)2
9 Jan 69	Galesburg, Ill.	Peoria (Ill.) Transcript (11 Jan 69)
11 Jan 69	Peoria, Ill.	Transcript and National Democrat (12 Jan 69)
12 Jan 693	Decatur, Ill.	Republican (14 Jan 69)
13 Jan 69	Ottawa, Ill.	Free Trader (16 Jan 69) and Republican (21 Jan 69)4
14 Jan 69	Davenport, Iowa	Democrat (15 Jan 69)
15 Jan 69	Iowa City, Iowa	Republican (6 and 20 Jan 69)
20 Jan 695	Toledo, Ohio	Commercial and Blade (21 Jan 69)
21 Jan 69	Norwalk, Ohio	Reflector (26 Jan 69)
22 Jan 696	Cleveland, Ohio	Herald, Leader, and Plain Dealer (23 Jan 69)
25 Jan 69	Marshall, Mich.	Statesman (28 Jan 69)
26 Jan 69	Batavia, Ill.	Aurora (Ill.) Beacon (4 Feb 69)
27 Jan 69	Freeport, Ill.	Bulletin (28 Jan 69) and Journal (3 Feb 69)
28 Jan 69	Waterloo, Iowa	Courier (4 Feb 69)7
29 Jan 69	Galena, Ill.	Gazette (2 Feb 69)
1 Feb 69	Jacksonville, Ill.	Journal (2 Feb 69) and Sentinel (5 Feb 69)
13 Feb 69	Ravenna, Ohio	Portage County Democrat (17 Feb 69) and Democratic Press (18 Feb 69)8
15 Feb 699	Alliance, Ohio	17 Feb 69 to OLL
16 Feb 69	Titusville, Pa.	Morning Herald (17 Feb 69)
17 Feb 6910	Franklin, Pa.	17 Feb 69 to Fairbanks (two letters)
23 Feb 69	Trenton, N.J.	True American (17–23 Feb 69) and State Gazette (23 Feb 69)
25 Feb 69	Stuyvesant, N.Y.	Hudson (N.Y.) Columbia Republican (16 Feb 69)
1 Mar 69	Geneseo, N.Y.	Genesee Valley Herald (24 Feb 69)
3 Mar 6911	Lockport, N.Y.	Journal (4 Mar 69)
16 Mar 69	Newtown, N.Y.	12 Mar 69 to OLL
20 Mar 69	Sharon, Pa.	Times (24 Mar 69) or Herald (27 Mar 69)

1869–1870 Tour

1 Nov 69	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Commercial, Gazette, Post (2 Nov 69), and others
2 Nov 69	Sharon, Pa.? or	Fall to SLC, 27 Oct 69
	Brookville, Pa.?	Pittsburgh Gazette (2 Nov 69)
3 Nov 69	Johnstown, Pa.?	Pittsburgh Gazette (2 Nov 69)
8 Nov 6912	Worcester, Mass.?	Fall to SLC, 27 Oct 69
9 Nov 69	Providence, R.I.	Evening Press, Journal, and Morning Herald (10 Nov 69)
10 Nov 69	Boston, Mass.	Advertiser, Herald, Post (11 Nov 69), and others
11 Nov 69	Charlestown, Mass.	Advertiser (13 Nov 69)
13 Nov 69	Norwich, Conn.	Advertiser (15 Nov 69, cited in Lorch 1968, 359 n. 5)13
15 Nov 69	Clinton, Mass.	Courant (20 Nov 69)
16 Nov 69	Holyoke, Mass.	Springfield (Mass.) Republican (16 Nov 69)
17 Nov 69	Danvers, Mass.	Monitor (24 Nov 69)
19 Nov 69	Jamaica Plain, Mass.	Boston Post and Boston Journal (11 Nov 69), Boston Evening Transcript (13 Nov 69)
23 Nov 6914	Hartford, Conn.	Courant (24 Nov 69) and Times (25 Nov 69)
26 Nov 69	Unidentified site	27 Nov 69 to OLL
29 Nov 69	Newtonville, Mass.	Newton Journal (4 Dec 69)
30 Nov 69	Thompsonville, Conn.	Springfield (Mass.) Republican (2 Dec 69)
1 Dec 6915	Brooklyn, N.Y.	Times and Eagle (2 Dec 69)
3 Dec 69	Poughkeepsie, N.Y.	Eagle and Press (4 Dec 69)
7 Dec 69	Philadelphia, Pa.	Evening Bulletin, Inquirer (8 Dec 69), Sunday Mercury (12 Dec 69), and others
8 Dec 69	Washington, D.C.	Evening Star, Morning Chronicle, National Republican (9 Dec 69), and others
9 Dec 69	Germantown, Pa.	29 Nov 69 to OLL
10 Dec 69	Mount Vernon, N.Y.	Chronicle (18 Dec 69)
11 Dec 69	West Meriden, Conn.	Meriden Republican (13 Dec 69)
13 Dec 69	New Britain, Conn.	Record (26 Nov, 17 Dec 69)
14 Dec 69	Warren, Mass.	29 Nov 69 to OLL
15 Dec 69	Pawtucket, R.I.	Gazette and Chronicle and Providence Journal (17 Dec 69)
16 Dec 6916	Waltham, Mass.	Free Press and Sentinel (17 Dec 69)
20 Dec 69	Canton, Mass.	Dedham (Mass.) Gazette (18 and 25 Dec 69)
21 Dec 69	Hudson, Mass.	29 Nov 69 to OLL
22 Dec 69	Portland, Me.	Eastern Argus and Press (23 Dec 69), Transcript (1 Jan 70), and others
23 Dec 69	Rockport, Mass.	Gloucester (Mass.) Cape Ann Advertiser (31 Dec 69)17
24 Dec 6918	Slatersville, R.I.	Woonsocket (R.I.) Patriot and Rhode Island State Register (24 Dec 69)
27 Dec 69	New Haven, Conn.	Morning Journal and Courier and Palladium (28 Dec 69)
28 Dec 69	Trenton, N.J.	State Gazette (29 and 30 Dec 69) and True American (29 and 30 Dec 69)
29 Dec 69	Newark, N.J.	Advertiser and Journal (30 Dec 69)
30 Dec 69	Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	29 Nov 69 to OLL
31 Dec 69	Williamsport, Pa.	Gazette and Bulletin (1 Jan 70)
4 Jan 70	Owego, N.Y.	Gazette and Times (6 Jan 70)
6 Jan 70	Amenia, N.Y.	29 Nov 69 and 6 Jan 70 (CU-MARK), both to OLL
7 Jan 70	Cohoes, N.Y.	Cataract (8 and 15 Jan 70)
10 Jan 70	Albany, N.Y.	Argus, Evening Journal, and Express (11 Jan 70)
11 Jan 70	West Troy, N.Y.	Troy Times and Troy Whig (12 Jan 70)
12 Jan 70	Rondout, N.Y.	29 Nov 69 and 10 Jan 70 (2nd of 2, CU-MARK), both to OLL
13 Jan 70	Cambridge, N.Y.	Washington County Post (14 Jan 70)
14 Jan 70	Utica, N.Y.	Observer (15 Jan 70)
15 Jan 70	Oswego, N.Y.	Commercial Advertiser and Times (17 Jan 70)
17 Jan 70	Baldwinsville, N.Y.	29 Nov 69 and 10 Jan 70 (2nd of 2, CU-MARK), both to OLL
18 Jan 70	Ogdensburg, N.Y.	Cleveland Herald (20 Jan 70)19
19 Jan 70	Fredonia, N.Y.	Censor (26 Jan 70)
20 Jan 70	Hornellsville, N.Y.	Tribune (2 Dec 69, 28 Jan 70)
21 Jan 70	Jamestown, N.Y.	Journal (22 and 28 Jan 70)

Explanatory Notes

Editorial Signs

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1 The Leader mistakenly reported that Clemens lectured in Akron on Thursday, 31 December. He had canceled 14 and 31 December lectures in New York City and Dayton, Ohio, respectively; missed a 15 December engagement in Buffalo; and “broke a lecture engagement” in an unidentified town to be in Elmira with Olivia Langdon “from 7 p.m. 17th to 7 p.m. 18th” (L2, 308, 340, 348, 368).

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2 Notices in these and other Illinois newspapers cited in this calendar are reprinted or summarized in Wallace.

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3 Originally Clemens was scheduled to appear in Bloomington, Illinois, on this date (2 Jan 69 to OLL).

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4 The Free Trader mistakenly reported that Clemens lectured on Tuesday, 12 January.

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5 Clemens was unable to reach Sparta, Wisconsin, for a scheduled 18 January lecture (14 Jan 69 to PAM; 17 Jan 69 and 19 Jan 69, both to OLL).

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6 A benefit for the Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylum (7 Jan 69 to Fairbanks and others).

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7 The Courier mistakenly reported that Clemens lectured on Friday, 29 January.

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8 The Democratic Press mistakenly reported that Clemens lectured on Sunday, 14 February.

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9 Clemens originally expected to lecture in New York City on 15 February. Subsequently that date was reassigned to Titusville, then to Franklin, and finally to Alliance, where he had missed an engagement on 12 February. The Titusville and Franklin lectures were moved to 16 and 17 February, respectively (13 and 14 Jan 69, 17 Jan 69, and 13 Feb 69, all to OLL; 13 Feb 69 to Fairbanks, n. 2; 17 Feb 69 to Fairbanks from Titusville).

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10 Clemens postponed an 18 February lecture in Geneseo, New York, until 1 March and canceled a 19 February lecture in Auburn, New York (17 Feb 69 to Fairbanks from Franklin, nn. 2, 4; 18 Feb 69 and 21–22 Feb 69 [three letters], all to the Young Men’s Association of Geneseo Academy).

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11 A storm had forced Clemens to reschedule this lecture from 27 February (27 Feb 69 and 28 Feb 69, both to OLL).

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12 The Brookville and Johnstown lectures, although announced by the Pittsburgh Gazette, are not on the 1–10 November itinerary in Fall’s 27 October letter to Clemens and are not mentioned in Clemens’s surviving letters or by local reviewers. They therefore remain doubtful—as do the Sharon and Worcester appointments, which are on Fall’s list, but may not have been kept (see pp. 385–86).

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13 The Advertiser, which doubtless reported the date of the Norwich lecture, was not available for examination. This performance almost certainly was on Saturday, 13 November, rather than the previous night, for which no lecture has been identified. Clemens spent all of Sunday, 14 November, as well as the morning of Monday, 15 November, in Norwich, which he was unlikely to have done had he lectured there on Friday, 12 November (15 and 16 Nov 69 to OLL).

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14 An engagement in Rutland, Vermont, on 24 or 25 November, apparently was canceled (25 Nov 69 to OLL).

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15 As a result of a misunderstanding, Clemens canceled a second Brooklyn lecture, scheduled for 6 December (4 Dec 69 and 6 Dec 69, both to James Redpath).

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16 Lectures scheduled for 17 and 18 December in Abington and Lynn, Massachusetts, respectively, were canceled because Clemens was ill (29 Nov 69, 18 and 19 Dec 69, both to OLL; 17 Dec 69 to PAM; Fall to SLC, 7 Dec 69, Redpath Letterpress Book, 632, IaU). The Boston weekly Flag of Our Union reported on 18 December that “Mr. Mark Twain lectures to-night in Boston with engagements to fulfil the subsequent nights in Charlestown, Chelsea, Roxbury, and other adjacent places” (808), but none of the specifics of this report are confirmed by Clemens or Fall or by local newspapers.

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17 The Advertiser mistakenly reported that Clemens lectured on Friday, 24 December.

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18 Originally scheduled to lecture in Salem, Massachusetts, on 24 December, Clemens was a late substitute in Slatersville for Josh Billings.

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19 The Herald, evidently drawing on one of its newspaper exchanges, reported that Mark Twain lectured in Ogdensburg “a day or two since.” This engagement, neither advertised nor reviewed in the Ogdensburg Journal, must have been a late addition: Clemens did not include it in the 11–21 January itinerary he sent to Olivia Langdon (10 Jan 70 to OLL [2nd of 2], CU-MARK).