The 19th century in America saw the evolution of a leisure society. Enjoying numerous technological advances, people had free time to indulge in a variety of pursuits. An assortment of board games flooded American homes. By the middle of the century, chess had surpassed all other games with its popularity. The author of three important chess texts, Thomas Frère was instrumental in the growth of chess as a significant American pastime.
This work provides an historical and chronological look at the 19th century development of chess through the writings of Thomas Frère. His books, letters, chess columns and scrapbooks chronicles the ways chess evolved over the greater part of the 1800s, and illuminates important players of the time and their games. The main text is divided into four sections covering 1827-1900. The first section looks at the early years as chess moved from private to public venues, discussing the establishment of formal chess clubs such as Frère’s 1855 Brooklyn Chess Club. The second section deals with the First American Chess Congress and the advent of Paul Morphy to the world of chess. The third section focuses on Frère’s part in the first formal world chess championship, a role thoroughly documented in Frère’s letters. The fourth section examines the last decade of the 1800s and the steps that led chess into the 20th century.
About the Author
Martin Frère Hillyer is a descendant of Thomas Frère. He lives in Ohio.
List of Illustrations
007 Thomas Frère, 1892, age 72
010-011 The Turk, chess automaton
018 Comic Valentine by T. Frère
019 New York City, Fulton and Nassau streets
041 Thomas Frère, 1857, age 37
042 Players of the First American Chess Congress
046 Paul Morphy, 1857
074 Miron Hazeltine, about 1859
075 Inscriptions by Frère and Hazeltine in Morphy's Gamesbook
076 Daniel W. Fiske, about 1857
078 Howard Staunton and the Leamington Club
097 Mary Frère's note about her father's Civil War mementos
097 Thomas Frère's Civil War pass
098 Helen Mar Rice
121 Manhattan Chess Club - East Room
122 Manhattan Chess Club - Library
122 Manhattan Chess Club - West Room
123 Manhattan Chess Club - Directors' Room
126 Academy of Music
127 Living Chess, lady's ticket
128 Living Chess, men's ticket
133 Living Chess, program cover
137 Die Schachspieler, "The Chess Players" engraving
137 Die Schachspieler, "The Chess Players" painting
147 Thomas Frère, 1879
149 Mrs. Harriet Bryant Hazeltine, 1860
173 William Steinitz
174 James Innes Minchin
181 Walter Frère
192 Thomas Frère in his home library, 1898
196 Letter to Eugene B. Cook from T. Frère
196 Inscription "Miss Emma F" in Frère's Chess Hand-Book
198 Handwritten note on Morphy and Steinitz
Content
ixList of Illustrations
xiAcknowledgments
001Introduction
Part I: 1827-1856
005 1. The Early Years
016 2. Manhattan, 1854-1856
021 Selected Games from Frère's Chess Hand-Book
027 Challenging Problems from the Chess Hand-Book
033Chess Hand-Book Problem Solutions
Part II: 1857-1865
037 3. Manhattan, 1857
046 Morphy's Games in America
061 Frère's Problem Tournament
068 Frère's Problem Solutions
071 4. "It smells like a Fiske"
095 5. 1861-1865: Conflict and Tragedy
100 Morphy's Games in Europe
Part III: 1877-1886
111 6. 1877: The Manhattan Chess Club
125 7. 1879: Living Chess
142 8. 1880: The Fifth American Chess Congress
160 9. 1883-1884: Welcome Steinitz! Farewell Morphy!
171 10. 1885-1886: The First World Championship
Part IV: Through 1900
181 11. The Final Years
195 Appendix A: A Chess Collector's Tale
197 Appendix B: Morphy and Steinitz
199 Chapter Notes
203 Selected Bibliography
205 Index of Games and Openings
207 General Index
This work provides an historical and chronological look at the 19th century development of chess through the writings of Thomas Frère. His books, letters, chess columns and scrapbooks chronicles the ways chess evolved over the greater part of the 1800s, and illuminates important players of the time and their games. The main text is divided into four sections covering 1827-1900. The first section looks at the early years as chess moved from private to public venues, discussing the establishment of formal chess clubs such as Frère’s 1855 Brooklyn Chess Club. The second section deals with the First American Chess Congress and the advent of Paul Morphy to the world of chess. The third section focuses on Frère’s part in the first formal world chess championship, a role thoroughly documented in Frère’s letters. The fourth section examines the last decade of the 1800s and the steps that led chess into the 20th century.
About the Author
Martin Frère Hillyer is a descendant of Thomas Frère. He lives in Ohio.
List of Illustrations
007 Thomas Frère, 1892, age 72
010-011 The Turk, chess automaton
018 Comic Valentine by T. Frère
019 New York City, Fulton and Nassau streets
041 Thomas Frère, 1857, age 37
042 Players of the First American Chess Congress
046 Paul Morphy, 1857
074 Miron Hazeltine, about 1859
075 Inscriptions by Frère and Hazeltine in Morphy's Gamesbook
076 Daniel W. Fiske, about 1857
078 Howard Staunton and the Leamington Club
097 Mary Frère's note about her father's Civil War mementos
097 Thomas Frère's Civil War pass
098 Helen Mar Rice
121 Manhattan Chess Club - East Room
122 Manhattan Chess Club - Library
122 Manhattan Chess Club - West Room
123 Manhattan Chess Club - Directors' Room
126 Academy of Music
127 Living Chess, lady's ticket
128 Living Chess, men's ticket
133 Living Chess, program cover
137 Die Schachspieler, "The Chess Players" engraving
137 Die Schachspieler, "The Chess Players" painting
147 Thomas Frère, 1879
149 Mrs. Harriet Bryant Hazeltine, 1860
173 William Steinitz
174 James Innes Minchin
181 Walter Frère
192 Thomas Frère in his home library, 1898
196 Letter to Eugene B. Cook from T. Frère
196 Inscription "Miss Emma F" in Frère's Chess Hand-Book
198 Handwritten note on Morphy and Steinitz
Content
ixList of Illustrations
xiAcknowledgments
001Introduction
Part I: 1827-1856
005 1. The Early Years
016 2. Manhattan, 1854-1856
021 Selected Games from Frère's Chess Hand-Book
027 Challenging Problems from the Chess Hand-Book
033Chess Hand-Book Problem Solutions
Part II: 1857-1865
037 3. Manhattan, 1857
046 Morphy's Games in America
061 Frère's Problem Tournament
068 Frère's Problem Solutions
071 4. "It smells like a Fiske"
095 5. 1861-1865: Conflict and Tragedy
100 Morphy's Games in Europe
Part III: 1877-1886
111 6. 1877: The Manhattan Chess Club
125 7. 1879: Living Chess
142 8. 1880: The Fifth American Chess Congress
160 9. 1883-1884: Welcome Steinitz! Farewell Morphy!
171 10. 1885-1886: The First World Championship
Part IV: Through 1900
181 11. The Final Years
195 Appendix A: A Chess Collector's Tale
197 Appendix B: Morphy and Steinitz
199 Chapter Notes
203 Selected Bibliography
205 Index of Games and Openings
207 General Index