Description
Ambrotype of Stephen Collins Foster. Foster was born in Lawrenceville, Pa. on July 4, 1826 as the youngest of 10 children to William B. and Eliza T. Foster. Foster began writing at an early age, publishing "Open Thy Lattice Love" when he was 18. He moved to Cincinnati when he was 20 to work as a bookkeeper with his brother. There, he continued his musical interest where "Oh! Susanna" was published. He moved to and from Pittsburgh many times over the years, finally settling in New York, where he died with 38 cents in his pocket and a scrap of paper with the words, " dear friends and gentle hearts." For a more in-depth biography, please see http://www.pitt.edu/~amerimus/foster.htm.
