Name/Title
Barber, J. W., Connecticut Historical CollectionsEntry/Object ID
2023.1.1Description
John Warner Barber, "Connecticut Historical Collections, Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, &c. Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut, with Geographical Descriptions. Illustrated by 190 Engravings" (New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J. W. Barber, 2nd ed., 1836).Context
In the Early Republic, American writers and artists strove to describe the new nation. One of the writers was John Warner Barber of Connecticut, who in the 1820s wrote the first illustrated travelogue of the state. According to Wikipedia:
John Warner Barber (February 2, 1798 – June 22, 1885) was an American engraver and historian whose books of state, national, and local history featured his vivid illustrations, said[1] to have caught the flavor and appearance of city, town, and countryside scenes in his day. Barber was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, and learned his craft from the East Windsor printmaker Abner Reed. He was the second of six children of Elijah Barber, a poor farmer, and Mary Barber. Elijah died during the summer of 1812, which forced the fourteen-year-old John to become responsible for supporting the family. In 1823 he opened a business in New Haven, where he produced religious and historical books, illustrated with his own wood and steel engravings.
He traveled around Connecticut, creating ink sketches of town greens, hotels, schools, churches, and harbors and collected local history as he went. He also delved into the works of historians. From all this he produced the book now commonly called Connecticut Historical Collections. The full title is Connecticut Historical Collections, Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, Etc., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut with Geographical Descriptions.
The book has been called "the first popular local history published in the U.S." The book sold well—7,000 copies in its first year even though it cost three dollars, then an average week's pay. Twelve years later it was reissued and again sold well.
"Today, though his wood engravings are well known, few copies of the book [Connecticut Historical Collections] remain," according to the Bibliopola Press Web site, which, as of August 2006, was selling a reprint version. "Antique dealers unfortunately do a brisk business selling the woodcuts from volumes they have 'broken.'"
Barber started with rough pencil sketches and developed them into more detailed wash drawings. He then transferred the drawings directly to small blocks of boxwood on which he engraved the designs.
"He talked with townspeople, gathered local documents and made quick sketches everywhere he went," according to a New York Times article from December 10, 1989, quoted on a print-selling Web site. "The illustrations depict each town center, with its homes and churches, academies and courthouses sailboats plying a river or harbor, an occasional factory belching puffs of smoke and always a tiny figure or two, often the artist in his top hat, sketching the scene or pointing to the view."
He died in New Haven, Connecticut in June 1885.Collection
General CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
BookNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsBook Details
Author
Barber, John WarnerIllustrator
Barber, John WarnerEdition
SecondPlace Published
City
New Haven, CTRegion
NortheastContinent
North AmericaDate Published
1836Printer
B. L. HamlenDate Printed
1836Publication Language
EnglishLocation
Location
Vault
Vault* Untyped Location
Main Museum BuildingCategory
PermanentDate
June 4, 2023Provenance
Provenance Detail
Found ObjectCopyright
Copyright Holder
Public DomainCopyright Date
1836Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
June 4, 2023Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
June 4, 2023
