Wright is Curator of Graphic Arts at the National Museum of American History
Summary:
Wright uses the first collection purchased by the Smithsonian, the print collection of George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882), to explore the cultural values ascribed to prints in nineteenth century America, especially their role in expositions and their importance to the visual culture of the era. The volume addresses both the development of American cultural identity and of the Smithsonian's museum as the National Museum of the United States. Marsh, a U.S. Congressman from Vermont, served as a Smithsonian Regent and as ambassador to Turkey, and was a passionate collector of books and prints. His print collection was the first collection of any kind, purchased in 1849 by the new Smithsonian Institution and is a valuable tool to explore the history of the Smithsonian, as well as American culture.