American Art-Union, 1839-1851: The Rise of American Art Literacy
Only the conclusion of the Civil War and the subsequent establishment of the hegemony of northern business interests would finally create the conditions in which the American middle classes, elevated by the industrial revolution, would establish lasting and authoritative institutions of high culture. The American Art-Union, however, was one of the most interesting of the pre-war efforts and its history continues to be explored by scholars in American Studies, American History, Art History, Cultural Studies, and the History of Capitalism. This collection consists of 109 volumes and 1 box of records from 1838 to 1860. Volumes include minutes of annual meetings, executive committee, committee of management, and purchasing committee; register of works of art in the American Art-Union, including title of the painting submitted, the artist, price asked, cost of frame and whether or not a picture was purchased or rejected; letters addressed to the American Art-Union, including many from agents around the country, and pertaining to the sale of subscriptions; letters from artists to the American Art-Union with index; letterpress books containing copies of letters sent by the American Art-Union; and newspaper clippings.