About the Donor
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Goodwin was born in London in 1799, the second son of William Goodwin. Thomas's father, a well-known music copyist and publisher, was active in theatre circles and was music librarian to Covent Garden Theatre. As a child, Thomas had access to his father's library and office, knew every part of the Covent Garden Theatre, and knew many of the actors and actresses. At age eight he performed in Harlequin and Mother Goose by Thomas Dibdin at Covent Garden Theatre (1806-1807 season).
Thomas's older brother, William (d. 1876), continued his father's business in London leaving no place for Thomas in the business. Thomas arrived in New York City on June 28, 1826 after departing from Liverpool sixty-eight days earlier. In New York, Thomas became a well-established music copyist and librarian and worked closely with Park Theatre as their librarian. When he arrived in 1827, Park Theatre was under the same management as Drury Lane Theatre in London.
Goodwin was a charter member of the Philharmonic Society in New York (New York Philharmonic) which was founded in 1842. He served as librarian for the organization.
Goodwin was surrounded by persons involved in theatre and the performing arts in both London and New York for his whole life. His knowledge about the theatre and music was deep and is shown in his Sketches and Impressions by R. Osgood Mason (New York: Putnams's, 1887). The book is filled with Goodwin's anecdotes about the London theater, his emigration to New York, and his involvement in New York theatre and musical life and provides most of the biographical information presented here.
Goodwin died in New York in 1886.