The Vault at Pfaff's

An Archive of Art and Literature by the Bohemians of Antebellum New York

Periodicals

The bohemians of antebellum New York published regularly in the daily newspapers, literary weeklies, and monthly magazines that proliferated throughout the United States in the years leading up to the Civil War. Writers and artists at the beginnings of their careers published in periodicals as a way to build their reputations and attract the attention of book publishers. A number of the periodicals that began during this period, such as The New York Tribune and Harper's Monthly, became very successful and continued to be published well into the twentieth century. Many other periodicals, however, lasted only for a few years. Two such periodicals, The New York Saturday Press and Vanity Fair, began around the tables at Pfaff's bar. The Saturday Press ran from October 1858 until December 1860, and was briefly revived in August 1865 only to cease publication again in June 1866. Similarly, Vanity Fair began publishing in December 1859 and ended its run in July 1863. During that brief window, however, the two periodicals were a showcase for a variety of irreverent, playful, and socially savvy literary and artistic productions. Vanity Fair regularly featured illustrations and was primarily a humor magazine with a strong political bent; the Saturday Press was text-only and focused on literary and theatrical arts, as well as commentary on current events. When the Pfaff's bohemians no longer had Vanity Fair and the Saturday Press available to them as publication venues, many of them began contributing to The New York Leader, a weekly that ran from 1856 to 1871.

The Vault at Pfaff's provides scanned page images of the Saturday Press, Vanity Fair, and the Leader in an Islandora viewer. Poems, illustrations, and articles from the Saturday Press and Vanity Fair have been indexed, with metadata and abstracts searchable on the site. Selections from the Leader will be indexed at a later date. In addition, many pieces by and about the Pfaff's bohemians that appeared in periodicals such as Harper's, Putnam's, The Knickerbocker, and Frank Leslie's Paper have been indexed for searching and, where available, links have been provided to external websites that house scanned page images or transcriptions.

Use the form below to browse plays or visit the advanced search page for more options.

  • H. C. Jr. [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Mes Adieux." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "My Forenoon with the Baby [from Harper's Monthly]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • Banks, A. F.. "Matrimonial Philosophics." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • H. C. Jr. [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Letter from the Editor." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "One Thing and Another." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "The Pennsylvania Germans." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "The Washington Monument [from the N. Y. Tribune]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-16).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • M. S. C.. "[My Dear Editor: -The Saturday Press hasn't come]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "One Thing and Another." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "The 'Rationalistic Horn' of Unitarianism." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Love-Matters." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • H. C. Jr. [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Mes Illusions." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "[A correspondent of the Tribune mentions, as one]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • Taylor, Bayard. "Bayard Taylor on Humboldt." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • Dollope. "Correspondence." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Art Items." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "New Publications." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "BIble Printing Monopoly in England [from the London Paper]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • Beach, Juliette H.. "The Ballad of Three Little Souls." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • Banks, A. F.. "My Friend Joe Blithebye." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Little Peddlington; Otherwise Called Bosville [from the Knickerbocker for September]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • L de Loop. "Phrenology." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • Nessuno. "[Dear Press: -I am a sucking author]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Daniel Gray." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Sale of Wordsworth's Library [from the London Times, July 25]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "Never Do Too Much at a Time." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • A Connecticut Yankee. "The Sewing-Machine." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • "New York A Great Spa." New York Saturday Press. (1859-8-20).

  • J. W. C.. "Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' [For the N.Y. Saturday Press]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Dr. Bellows. "Dr. Bellow's Statement [From the Christian Inquirer]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "The Saratoga Platform." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Plagiarism Defined and Illustrated." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Brigham Young’s Two Hours with Horace Greeley." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "[John did you ever bet on a horse-race?]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Papa, What Is a Newspaper and What Does It Contain?." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Farmenter, Fred A.. "Dolore." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Balzac [From the London Critic]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Elliott, George W.. "The Diamond Ring [From Knickerbocker for September]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "The Family." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "[The Supreme Court of Indiana has rendered a decision]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Clare, Ada.. "Matilda Heron in 'Geraldine'." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "[Editorial Comments]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Love-Matters." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "New Publications." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Vaughn, Virginia. "Love." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "October to May [Atlantic Monthly for September]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "Last Hours of a Single Gentleman." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • "The Losses in the Italian War [From the Paris 'Journal des Debats']." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Nessuno. "Correspondence [August 20, 1859]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "The Tug of War." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Firenee. "Ode to Italy [From the Boston Daily Advertiser]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-8-27).

  • Congdon, Charles Taber. "Little Peddlington: Otherwise Called Bosville." The Knickerbocker Magazine. New York. (1859-9-1).

  • "A Fatal Gift [from Once a Week]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Bailey, William S. and Caroline A.. "Death of Our Daughter, Laura [from the Weekly Free South]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "A Worthless Book." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Nessuno. "Correspondence: The Unitary Household." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Shakespeare and Woman." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Lewis, Mrs. H. J.. "Summer is Dead." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Howells, W. D.. "Drifting Away." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Holland, J. G.. "What Is the Baby Thinking About? [from 'Bitter Sweet']." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Vates. "A Coming Event--A Fable." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Divorced by Mistake." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Bartlett, Rev. William Alvin. "The Brooklyn Tabernacle." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Farmenter, Frederick A.. "Aurora Borealis." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Mesmerism and Matrimony or, Science versus Widow [from Knitting Work]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • Banks, A. F.. "A Vision of the Lady of Lyons." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Love-Matters." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-10).

  • "Index to Current Literature." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Collier and the Commentators." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Art Items." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Nessuno. "[Dear Press: Do you want my opinion of the new play]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Banks, A. F.. "A Moral Tale." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Perkins, R. G.. "Impurities of the Croton-Glass Pipes Recommended." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Robinson, Jack. "Jack Robinson at Nahant." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "[At a dinner given in Boston to the Baltimore]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Percy, Florence. "The Last Letter." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "New Publications." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Edmonds, J. W.. "Judge Edmonds on Spiritualism No. IX." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "One Thing and Another." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Clapp, Henry Jr.. "Blue and Gold." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "The Worn Wedding Ring." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Jennie Brown." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "The Little Grave." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Highly Important." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • M. S. C.. "Correspondence." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Geraldine [Opinions of the Press]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "John Jr." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Jackson, W. F. B.. "To M. A. W." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • "Drawings of Raffaelle and Michaelangelo." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-13).

  • Percy, Florence. "Love Me Last." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "[Motto for the King of Bohemia]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • H. C. Jr. [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Nobody's Song." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "Gradation." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "The Divine and the Human." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "L. N." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "The Mystical Square." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Banks, A. F.. "A Heavenly 'Fix'." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "Poor Punch!." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • W. S.. "'A Letter from 'The Mountain'." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Nessuno. "Spiritualism." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Fonblanque, Albany, Jr.. "Tom Rocket, The Highwayman [from Once a Week]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "Jenny." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Nemo. "All for Lawn." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Gay, Getty. "The Bore." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Clare, Ada. "Madame Bishop at Palace Garden." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • "New Publications." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-17).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "Foreign Agents." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-23).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "From Newport [Correspondence of The New York Times]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Banks, A. F.. "The Old Lot." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Squire Goble's Marriage Ceremony." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "American Photographical Society." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Jasper. "Private Opinions Publicly Expressed I." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Another Revival." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Nessuno. "Correspondence." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "De Quincey [from the London Critic]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Rare Books." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Presidential Candidates." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "Art Items." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "New Publications." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Larcom, Lucy. "Waiting in the Rain." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "The Boston Congregationalist Versus The N. Y. Saturday Press." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • D. D.. "The Condemned." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Watters, A.. "Maple Island." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • "The Recorder and the Congregationalist." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Yeadon. "Mr. Smith. The Presidency." New York Saturday Press. (1859-9-24).

  • Curtis, George W.. "Editor's Easy Chair: What Is a Bohemian?." Harper's New Monthly Magazine. (1859-10-1).

  • "Profession and Practice." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Craig, D. H.. "Editorial Discipline and Deportment." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Tub, Tom. "Correspondence: Things in Boston." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Clare, Ada. "Adelaide Cortesi." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "The Coming Prize-Fight." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Wood, J. Q. A.. "Dad Is Growing Old." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • A Poor Young Man. "L'Amour. Que qu' c' est q' ca? or Love, What Is It? Translated by Frank Wood." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "The Boston Courier and Mr. Everett." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "About Webb and Bennett." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "New Publications." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • O'Brien, Fitz-James. "The Prize-Fight." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Huron. "The Napoleons." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "The Hearthstone Club [from the New York Tribune]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "Mr. Everett a Bloomer." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Jasper. "Private Opinions Publicly Expressed II." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "American Sayings and Doings." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Giles, Henry. "Books of the Day." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • Brougham, John. "Falling Leaves." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-11).

  • "Literary Notes." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "The Saturday Press Book-List." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Watson, John W.. "Ten Years Between Drinks." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • D. D.. "Outward Bound." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "[Notices]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "Mr. Bonner and the Methodists of New Jersey [from the Christian Advocate and Journal]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Jasper. "Private Opinions Publicly Expressed IV." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Antaeus. "Correspondence: From the Adirondacs." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. "A Tale of Villafranca, as Told in Tuscany." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • H. A. Jr. [Alger, Horatio Jr.]. "The Queen of Baby Land." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Watson, John W.. "Reuben Moreton's Test." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "Twenty Years Married." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "Church's 'Heart of the Andes' [from the London Saturday Review]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • [Clapp, Henry Jr.]. "[Bon Mots]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "Cartouche on the Stage [from All the Year Round]." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Julia H--. "Evening Shadows." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • Nye, Joseph W.. "The Cat That Catches the Rat." New York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).

  • "Winthrop Mackworth Praed [Philadelphia Press]." New-York Saturday Press. (1859-10-15).