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Charles Sumner and Romantic Friendships

Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

People who we consider queer today have always existed. In the 1800s, same-sex affection often took the form of romantic friendships. These ambiguous relationships allowed platonic friends to form deep physical and emotional bonds with one another, while also allowing lovers a degree of openness during a time in which homosexuality was criminalized. These videos, a joint effort between Boston African American National Historic Site and Longfellow House – Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, explore Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner's romantic friendships with two of the most important men in his life: Samuel Gridley Howe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.