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

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 ...

One-hit Wonders

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 ...

The Acquisitions Table: Archive of American Publishers’ Ephemera

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 January ...

The Acquisitions Table: Captain Gregg and His Dog

Captain Gregg and His Dog.Providence: H.H. Brown, 1831. This is a scarce copy of an adventure story about an injured soldier and his loyal dog who survive the perils of the American Revolution in upstate New York.  I was able to successfully bid on this book at a recent Swann auction through the kind assistance of ...

Copyright and the Beginnings of Photography

As a Jay and Deborah Last Fellow at the American Antiquarian Society, I was excited to find a wealth of material related to my dissertation on photography and intellectual property law.  The United States Constitution pledged “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing, for limited Times, to Authors and Inventors the ...

The Acquisitions Table: 100 Pieces of American Ephemera

Group of 100 pieces of American ephemera, 1830-1900. In order to mark the Society’s 200th birthday, AAS member and collector Lisa Baskin took the unique approach of donating 100 pieces of American ephemera, including the examples shown here.  The collection includes labels, trade cards, and tickets, and features a variety of printing styles, including letter press, ...

New K-12 Workshop: The Emancipation Proclamation with Harold Holzer

Over the next several months we are very excited to offer a new series of workshops for K-12 teachers. First up is “The Emancipation Proclamation” on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., led by prominent Lincoln historian Harold Holzer. During this one-day workshop we will examine carefully the text of the proclamation, examine ...

Adopt-a-Book 2013: Lewdness & Loud Talking Forbidden!

Tonight is the night! Come to AAS at 6 p.m. for the Society’s 6th annual Adopt-a-Book event! There will be food, drinks, original collection materials to view, and curatorial knowledge-sharing.  If you haven't pre-adopted it will be $10 to get in, but if you have, it's free! You can still browse the 2013 Adopt-A-Book Catalog to ...

Adopt-a-Book 2013: Poetry and Flowers

We hope to see you in the library in person tomorrow, Friday, April 5, at 6 p.m.  AAS’s 6th annual Adopt-a-Book event will bring together book-loving research fellows, staff, and supporters for an evening of viewing historical material recently purchased by the curators, sharing a drink, and, of course, raising funds for the Society’s future acquisitions. You ...

The Acquisitions Table: Leonard Deming Booksellers’ Stamp

Leonard Deming booksellers’ stamp. In Jonathan Edward’s The Salvation of All Men Strictly Examined.Boston: Published by C. Ewer, and T. Bedlington, 1824. Leonard Deming is best known to scholars today for being (along with Nathaniel Coverly) the other important purveyor of folk ballads and street literature in early nineteenth-century Boston and a prolific publisher of Jim ...