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The First Smithsonian Collection: The European Engravings of George Perkins Marsh and the Role of Prints in the U.S. National Museum

Catalog Data

Author:
Wright, Helena E  Search this
Subject:
Marsh, George Perkins 1801-1882  Search this
National Collections  Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Graphic Arts  Search this
United States National Museum  Search this
Regents Smithsonian Institution  Search this
Edition:
First edition
Physical description:
Number of pages: 313 Page numbers: i-xxiv, 1-289
Place:
United States
Date:
2015
Category:
Smithsonian History Bibliography
Citation information:
Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge
Notes:
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.
Contact information:
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Topic:
Collectors and collecting  Search this
Prints  Search this
Engraving  Search this
Prints and Drawings  Search this
Graphic arts  Search this
Legislators  Search this
Publisher:
Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_14372