THE BEECHERS This is the story of an American family and the making of the American nation as seen through their experiences from 1800 through the War Between the States, originally produced in 1985 as a radio serial. The Beecher family included some of the most famous figures of the Nineteenth Century, engaged in various social and religious issues, from the not-so-irrational fear that Thomas Jefferson would be a revolutionary president to the last Beecher daughter's feminist career ending with her death in 1907.
THE BEECHERS RADIO SERIES came about as an answer to the question What happens in some families, such as the Adamses, the Jameses, the Beechers, that allows many talents to emerge, come to fruition, and contribute so much to the rest of us? Is it a peculiar gene? Or perhaps the family environment is somehow conducive to genius? Or is this an unanswerable question best left unasked? I did not uncover any simple answer in 1985, when this series first aired on KCSB-FM, Santa Barbara—but I did discover, with Tolstoy, that history is too broad for us even to glimpse its horizons. As Thoreau phrased it—so elegantly that I used his words as a rubric in every episode of the radio series—The earnest seeker and hopeful discoverer of this New World always haunts the outskirts of his or her time. Our history is written in the lives of such individuals. There is perhaps no better glimpse of the coming of age of America than that obtained by watching the Beechers one by one make their mark. They will not be forgotten. I wish to acknowledge Michael Katz, Susan Stewart Potter, Shirley Sims, Dennis Holt, and Peter Krause, and about seventy-five other actors, and the moral support of Steve Sellman.
If you're into the Nineteenth Century, this series will give you a lot of the feel of home life, in the home of America's most illustrious family, which included Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher, Catharine Beecher, Edward Beecher, Thomas K. Beecher, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Lyman Beecher, and more. How did one family produce so many prominent figures? Follow their lives and find out.
Sasha Newborn January 1991
LYMAN BEECHER begins his ministry, revivalism on Long Island, Lyman's breakdown and recovery, the first child, Aunt Mary Foote's story, more children, Roxana as wife, the private school, more on Aunt Mary, fear of Jefferson, Uncle Samuel Foote, Lyman's fiddle, childhood and discipline, Lyman's sermon on Duelling, moving to Litchfield, Connecticut.
Characters: Lyman Beecher, Roxana, Mary Foote, Catharine, Noah Webster, Judge Reeve, Edward.
The household at Litchfield, Miss Pierce's school, no Christmas, the house, sunsets and woods, Judge Reeve, boys fishing and hunting, Uncle Samuel, Catharine's poems, piano, Roxana's letter, her death, funeral, elegy.
Characters : Harriet, Henry, Catharine, Roxana, Lyman, Charles.>
Lyman's new wife, letters to his children, Catharine's romance, young Frederick dies, Catharine's fiance Alexander Fisher dies, Lyman's letter to her, Catharine's doubt, C. writes to Edward, Lyman to E., Lyman's advice, Catharine visits Fisher's family, Catharine's letters, her decision, Lyman's help.
Characters : Lyman, Catharine, Harriet Porter, Edward, Henry.
Family projects, Harriet away from home, Aunt Esther, Byron's death, Lyman's attack on Unitarianism, Harriet's conversion, Catharine's new school in Hartford, her enthusiasm, strain of teaching, Lyman accepts invitation to preach at Boston, Catharine's revival, C.'s ideas, her breakdown.
Characters : Harriet, Catharine, Lyman.
5. BOSTON YEARS-1 : (1826-1829)
The Unitarian controversy, Bacon's analysis, Lyman's sermon, moving to Boston, Lyman's illness, politics of religion, Channing vs. Beecher, Old School attacks, L.'s regimen, first sermons in Boston, progress in church, Mrs. Beecher's view of Boston, William's problems, Henry's wish to go to sea, Lyman's talk with him, prayer.
Characters : Lyman, Harriet, William, Henry, Leonard Bacon, Channing, Harriet Porter.
6. BOSTON YEARS-2 : (1829-1832)
Lyman as revivalist preacher, Harriet's view of Lyman, attacks on Lyman, sermons printed, L.'s techniques, Catharine's revival and Lyman's reply, fiddle tunes, arranging for a church for Edward, letter to Catharine, more help for Edward, Catharine's Cherokee appeal, Mason's hymns, Garrison's reversal, Walker on Lyman's contribution to lyceums, church burned, the call West, news of Charles and William.
>Characters : Lyman, Harriet, Lowell Mason, Amasa Walker, W.L. Garrison.
7. THE HEIR APPARENT : (1818-1834)
Edward's regimen, his schooling, his ideas, Channing on Calvinism, E. at Hartford Seminary, Lyman's advice, Catharine's letter, helping Harriet, Harriet's reply, Edward's conception of God, and of evil, his revelation, Charles comments, E. at Park Street, Catharine's comment, Garrison's address, Lyman's position, Garrison retracts, Edward in Illinois, Bryant in Jacksonville, E. on emancipation, meets Elijah Lovejoy, E.'s sermons published.
Characters : Edward, Harriet, Lyman, Charles, Garrison, Catharine, Channing, Bryant, Lovejoy.
The Beechers move West, Cincinnati, Dr. Wilson's opposition, Lyman defends himself, social activities, models for Legree and Topsy, cholera, Catharine's new school, the abolitionist controversy, C.'s rebuff, her New York speech, Henry comes West, Charles takes up music, William's new job, Henry's conversion, Lyman remarries again, Harriet marries Calvin Stowe, Henry patrols for Birney, Catharine on a speaking tour, C. writing with Harriet.
Characters : Lyman, Harriet, Charles, Henry, Foote, Catharine.
First family reunion described, Henry's progress, slavery, circular letter, Mary's invitation to Isabella, Lyman's heresy trial described, Catharine's ideas, her speech.
Characters : Lyman, Catharine, Hastings, Harriet, George, Edward, Thomas, Isabella, Mary, Charles, Henry.
The reunion continues, Lyman counsels Charles, more of Lyman's heresy trial, abolitionism, George's ordination.
>Characters : Lyman, Harriet, Charles, Henry, Edward, Catharine, George, Isabella, Thomas, William, Mary.
Charles's stories of slavery to Harriet, Garrison's challenge, abolitionism, Eliza's escape, Lovejoy's move to Alton, anti-slavery convention disrupted, Webster's view, Channing's letter, Lovejoy's fourth press, mob kills Lovejoy, Edward becomes an abolitionist leader.
Characters : Edward, Lyman, Daniel Webster, Elijah Lovejoy, Channing, Charles, Garrison, John Quincy Adams.
12. CINCINNATI-2 : (1836-1840)
Harriet's dictation, Henry's speaking lessons, Catharine vs. Angelina Grimke on women's rights, Henry's sermons, Peter Cartwright confronts Joseph Smith, Edward and Charles debate Catharine in theology.
Characters : Henry, Peter Cartwright, Joseph Smith, Lyman, Volunteer, Harriet, Isabella, Angelina Grimke, Mina, Catharine.
Henry in Indianapolis, Harriet studies writing, Cartwright on abolitionism, Fanny Kemble reports on slavery conditions, Garrison's editorials, Isabella discovers women's rights, James ships out, glimpses of Harriet's book to come, revivalism in Indianapolis, brothers stay with Henry.
Characters : Harriet, Henry, Isabella, Cartwright, Catharine, Garrison, Katy Beecher, Calvin Stowe, Lyman, Blackstone.
14. INDIANAPOLIS-1 : (1837-1843)
Henry at Lawrenceburgh, and Indianapolis, as revivalist preacher, Henry's apostolic method, Van Buren's visit, Seven Lectures for Young Men, Lovell's class, Charles's progress, Julia Merrill and Betty Bates, Charles's ordination, getting him a church in Ft. Wayne, Harriet and Henry experiment with mesmerism.
Characters : Henry, Harriet, Lyman, Julia Merrill, Charles, Thomas.
George as student, his illness, journey to Cincinnati, George's ordination, a church at Batavia, round-robin letter on George's perfectionism, Catharine visits him in Chillicothe, his suicide, Catharine's memorial volume.
Characters : Harriet, Lyman, George, Catharine, Henry, Charles, Calvin Stowe, William.
16. INDIANAPOLIS-2 : (1844-1847)
Henry's anti-slavery stand in Indianapolis, H.'s work habits, his involvement with Julia Merrill, offer from Brooklyn, and one from Boston, Eunice's health, Julia's mother dies, Henry leaves for Brooklyn.
Characters : Henry, Fanny Kemble, Lyman, King, McLean, Eunice, Ketcham, Bowen, Abbott, Cutler, Merrill, Julia Merrill, Whittier.
17. THE TURNING POINT : (1848-1850)
Catharine's book reprinted, Thomas as her speaker, her call for teachers, Slade splits off, Henry's first Brooklyn sermon, his first freedom auction, the Delia Bacon affair, Catharine alienates the family, Edward publishes, Henry's new church design, Charles is outspoken, Ch. moves to Newark, Henry in Europe, H. becomes a collector, writes Star Papers, Fugitive Slave Law passed, Harriet and Henry meet, Catharine organizes.
Characters : Henry, Catharine, Harriet, Lyman, John C. Calhoun, Delia Bacon, Edward.
Lyman retires at 75, Catharine helps run Harriet's household, Frederick Douglass's story, Harriet writes to him, National Era publishes Harriet's chapters, Uncle Tom's Cabin is published, letters come in, Calvin invited to teach at Andover, Tom dramatized, Fanny Kemble's letter, George Sand's comments.
Characters : Harriet, Catharine, Frederick Douglass, Fanny Kemble, Garrison, Calvin Stowe, Charles, Longfellow, George Sand, Katy Beecher, Lyman, Bailey, Whittier.
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a huge success, Edward Beecher's Conflict of Ages published, Charles works on Lyman's Autobiography, Harriet works to bring Catharine back together with the family, Harriet accuses Joel Parker, reaction to Edward's book, Catharine's ideas in Harriet's books, Harriet writes to Garrison, Bleeding Kansas and ``Beecher's Bibles,'' J.R. Lowell writes to Harriet.
Characters : Harriet, Catharine, James Russell Lowell, Charles, W.L. Garrison, Jonathan Edwards, Edward, Henry.>
Harriet becomes focal point for fundraising, letter from Jenny Lind, Harriet encouraged to visit Europe, Wendell Phillips and Frederick Douglass speak, refutation of criticism of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet, Calvin and Charles in Europe-Scotland, a dinner in London, Englishwomen's petition, H. meets Lady Byron, H. to Geneva, Harriet's appeal to American women, Dred published, second European trip, H. meets the Queen.
Characters : Harriet, Henry, F. Douglass, E.B. Browning, Jenny Lind, Kingsley, Wendell Phillips, Charles, Sumner, George Sand, Cassius Clay, George Eliot.
Lyman talks of his father, Henry asserts leadership, Henry's organist, Lyman's birth, L.'s reaction to Milton's Satan, Henry's Star Papers and familiar essays published, Lyman on the Revolution, Henry's preaching described, Lyman's conversion, fishing, aurora borealis, Revolutionary skirmish, Robert G. Ingersoll on the Beechers, Henry's oratory, Lyman's support at college, the buttery, meeting his first wife, Roxana.
Characters : Lyman, Henry, Harriet, Zundel, Timothy Dwight, Catharine, Bronson Alcott, Abbott, Robert G. Ingersoll, Theodore Parker.
22. THE POT BOILS OVER : (1854-1860)
Henry's anti-slavery views, abolitionist agitation, Stephen Douglas's Kansas-Nebraska bill passed, Republican Party organized, Buchanan elected, Catharine on water cures and women's health issues, Harriet's son drowned, H. publishes The Minister's Wooing modeled on Catharine's affair, Charles's resolution against Buchanan, Edward publishes The Concord of Ages, Lincoln elected, Southern states hold independent conventions, war is imminent.
Characters : Harriet, Henry, Catharine, Lincoln, Isabella, Fillmore, Dr. Hodge, Greeley, Edward, Mrs. Marvyn, Charles.
Lyman on the War of 1812, Harriet's illness, Lyman dying, Thomas's letter, Charles's anecdote of loss of faith, Henry reads Lyman's letter about Thomas, Thomas tells of telegram, Harriet reads letter of Lyman's to Taylor, Thomas reports on being the last child at home.
Characters : Lyman, Thomas, Harriet, Charles, Isabella, Henry.
James becomes colonel, Frederick Stowe and Henry, jr. enlist, Alexander Stephens speaks, Thomas joins as chaplain, Henry criticizes Lincoln, gets a night visitor, Harriet goes to Jersey City and sees Frederick, H. goes to Washington with Isabella to see Lincoln, then writes a reply to the Englishwomen's petition, Hawthorne congratulates her, Henry goes to Europe, meets Leopold of Belgium but rebukes him, in England Henry is persuaded to give five speeches to hostile audiences, which sway the British away from recognizing the Confederacy, H. returns home a hero.
Characters : Henry, Harriet, Mabie, James, Lincoln, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Frederick Stowe, Alexander Stephens, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
25. WAR AND PEACE : (1863-1869)
The women's movement abandoned by the abolitionists, Isabella's first article, Charles's heresy trial, James given a colored regiment, Charles and Edward write a reply, Henry calls on Lincoln, Isabella drawn into women's movement, James wounded, J. gives a sermon in freed territory, Henry speaks at Ft. Sumter, Lincoln assassinated, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony take their struggle to Kansas, Henry preaches reconciliation with the South-not a popular view, H. gets out of step with the Republican Party, Theodore Tilton takes over Henry's paper, Stanton speaks out, Henry, James and Frederick Douglass reply, women's group splits, Stanton attacks Harriet, Harriet replies, Victoria Woodhull allied with Isabella, Isabella holds a convention.
Characters : Henry, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Isabella, Victoria Woodhull, Charles, Thomas, Marcy, James, Frederick Douglass, Henry James, Susan B. Anthony.
Thomas and Henry together, Harriet publishes Lady Byron Vindicated, Charles in Florida with Harriet and Calvin, Theodore Tilton becomes a radical Republican and accuses Henry of approaching his wife, James Beecher in upper New York state, Claflin's Weekly publishes Beecher-Tilton scandal story, Mark Twain writes in support of Thomas Beecher, Harriet on speaking tour, another Twain piece on Thomas and his huge church, Edward moves to New York, Henry on trial, Catharine comes to Elmira, James breaks down and commits suicide, Henry dies.
Characters : Thomas, Harriet, Eastman, Charles, Henry, Edward, Julia, Ned Buntline, Mark Twain, Isabella, Beach.
Catharine experiments, Harriet and Henry experiment with mesmerism, Calvin Stowe reports on his unusual experiences, William's powers, Isabella's delusions of grandeur, James on family insanity, Charles writes of spiritualism in religion, Thomas on the family.
Characters: Calvin Stowe, Isabella, Harriet, Catharine, James, Charles, Thomas, Henry, William.
Thomas Beecher graduates, Lyman at home, Thomas's scientific skills, Thomas hears Horace Bushnell, Henry's and Harriet's successes, Thomas begins his ministry, T. builds the first institutional-style church, Henry becomes an evolutionist, Henry's typical day, Catharine's vision, her death, Edward's book, Harriet's birthday party with O.W. Holmes, J.G. Whittier, Henry is interviewed about politics, Henry comes out for Cleveland against the Republicans, James's suicide, Henry's death, Isabella in the women's movement, her advice to granddaughter Isabel, the last Beecher dies.
Characters : Henry, Harriet, Whittier, Isabella, Holmes, Edward, Lowell, Catharine, George Eliot, John Ruskin.
LYMAN BEECHER (1775-1863)
—1799 married ROXANA FOOTE (1775-1816)
—1817 married HARRIET PORTER (1790-1835)
— 1836 married LYDIA BEALS JACKSON (1789-1869)
CATHARINE (1800-1878)
—engaged, but never married
WILLIAM H. (1802-1889)
—1832 married Katherine: 6 children
EDWARD (1803-1895)
—1829 married Isabella: 11 children
MARY F. (1805-1900)
—1827 married Thomas Clap Perkins: 4 children
HARRIET (1808-1 month)
GEORGE (1809-1843)
—1837 married Sarah: 2 children
HARRIET E. (1811-1896)
—1836 married Calvin Stowe: 7 children
HENRY WARD (1813-1887)
—1837 married Eunice Bullard: 9 children
CHARLES (1815-1900)
—1840 married Sarah: 6 children
FREDERICK (1818-1820)
ISABELLA H. (1822-1907)
—1841 married John Hooker: 4 children
THOMAS K. (1824-1900)
—1851 married Olivia Day: 4 adopted children
—1857 married Julia Jones
JAMES C. (1828-1886)
—1853 married Ann: 3 adopted children
—1864 married Frances
Bandanna Books • 1212 Punta Gorda St., #13 • Santa Barbara CA 93103
The Beechers copyright © 1991 Bandanna Books.
EPISODES
East Hampton
Litchfield
Firstborn
Hartford
Boston Years-1
Boston Years-2
The Heir Apparent
Cincinnati-1
Reunion-1
Reunion-2
Alton
Cincinnati-2
The Forties
Indianapolis-1
The Suicide
Indianapolis-2
The Turning Point
The Book-1
Fame
The Book-2
Second Reunion
The Pot Boils Over
Last Gathering
At War
War and Peace
A New Era
Spiritualism
Aftermath
MORE AUDIO FILES
Margaret Fuller
MacDowell, Bray
SoundArt
SCRIPTS, NO AUDIO
John Muir
The Brownings
Zachary Taylor
