Past is Present

New Hands-On History Workshop: Worcester and the American Revolution

James David Moran — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:30:46 +0000

To study closely a nineteenth-century lithograph or actually touch the impressions of type in the sheets of an eighteenth-century newspaper can be a magical, even transformative, experience. For years I have seen K-12 educators become engrossed and inspired by such activities. However it was only after we conducted a one-day workshop for K-12 educators on [...]

The Acquisitions Table: Aristotle’s Master-piece

Elizabeth Watts Pope — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:42 +0000

Aristotle’s Master-piece, Completed. In Two Parts.The First Containing the Secrets of Generation… The Second Part being a Private Looking-Glass for the Female Sex. New-York: Printed for the Company of Flying Stationers, 1812. Aristotle’s Masterpiece is a fascinating hybrid text. It used the veneer of a supposed classical author (Aristotle really had about as much to [...]

National Nurses Week – a Trip in the Archive

Jackie Penny — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:36:01 +0000

The March 2013 issue of AJN: The American Journal of Nursing featured on its cover a well-known AAS collection item – A Map of the Open country of a Woman’s Heart by “A Lady” published by Kellogg c. 1833–1842. Throughout the month of April, we received queries about this image from nurses around the country. [...]

The Acquisitions Table: Thomas Beal Account Book

Tracey Kry — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:18 +0000

Beal, Thomas.Account Book, 1809-1810. Thomas Prince Beal (1785-1852), son of David Beal and Lydia Prince, was a lawyer in the coastal town of Kingston, Massachusetts. He married Betsy Sampson, and the couple had seven children. His account book, although short, reflects his professional life from 1809 through 1810. Arranged by customer and listing debts and [...]

Creating Historical Theater in an Afternoon

Kayla Haveles — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:07 +0000

“…you sockdologizing old man-trap!” Stomp. Scream. Panic. “Good, good – now next time, keep the scream going longer and continue the dialogue over it. Let’s see how that works.” This was just one of many exchanges between the group of nine actors practicing a staged reading of the historically-based play Sockdology, and Jeffrey Hatcher, the [...]

The Acquisitions Table: Bible Characters

Laura Wasowicz — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:00:42 +0000

Bible Characters, Instructive and Entertaining Compiled for the use of Young Children (3rded) on a sheet with History of Haman and Mordecai compiled by a Friend to Youth. New York: Mahlon Day, 1837. This single sheet printing shows the way in which multiple-page books were laid out (or composed) during the nineteenth century. Such sheets [...]

Public Program: Nathaniel Philbrick Takes a Fresh Look at Bunker Hill

Kayla Haveles — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:30:05 +0000

This Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m., Nathaniel Philbrick will deliver a lecture titled “Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution,” based on his new book of the same name. We’re particularly excited to have Mr. Philbrick here this week as the book’s release date is today, making his visit to AAS one of [...]

One-hit Wonders

Vincent Golden — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:30:54 +0000

The American Antiquarian Society has a large number of periodicals and newspapers of which only a single issue was printed before they folded. There are a variety of reasons for why this might be. Sometimes issue no. 1 is really a prospectus trying to generate interest and subscribers, but failing in this mission. Often it [...]

Press Check

Jackie Penny — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:30:51 +0000

Did you receive your copy of the Almanac yet? If not, a PDF version is currently available on the AAS website. But that’s not what this post is about. This is not a post about digital surrogacy. It’s a post about good, old-fashioned printing presses (okay, okay, a 1995 press). While we undoubtedly advocate for [...]

The Acquisitions Table: Archive of American Publishers’ Ephemera

Lauren Hewes — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:58 +0000

Archive of American Publishers’ Ephemera, 1840-1900, 216 pieces. The American Antiquarian Society’s collection of American ephemera includes much material related to the book and printing trades, including bookplates, binders’ tickets, and trade cards for printers and publishers. A recent donation in honor of long time ephemera dealer and collector Joseph Freedman (who passed away in [...]