Currier & Ives Prints that Might be of Use

 

The firm of Currier & Ives was founded in 1835, in New York City. It produced mostly colored prints of famous events, and idyllic scenes of American life. 

I didn’t realize, until I started looking, that the artists working for the firm also produced their share of racist images. Considering the times, I should not have been surprised. 

If I were still teaching today (I retired in 2008), I’d use some of the images below to make important points. For example, I believe it is important to humanize the people we ask our students to study. So, I always looked for examples that proved people don’t really change. I’ll start with those.

I think students would be amused by this print.

How similar is this couple to a modern couple?

Would this driver be like a driver today in any way?

What's the same, and what's different in this scene, and today?

How would people in Central Park, c. 1875, be like us?

What would be better or worse about living in 1840?

In the two scenes above, what are the people thinking?

And who are the heroes?

What does this scene seem to say?

I might ask students to write a paragraph about anyone (or any living creature) shown here.

What are they thinking, where are they going, what are their lives like?

An idyllic scene of wagons headed West.

The risks and rewards of hunting.

Western settlers had to worry about prairie fires.

Why would a woman's image be used here?

Battle of Williamsburg 1862.

This scene strikes me as lame.

Battle of Antietam.

Mocking Jefferson Davis, 

who did try to escape, dressed in women's clothing.

1865.

The "perfect" family, c. 1876.

Students might want to comment on what this shows.
(The woman has a bustle.)

In fact, what is the perfect family today???

Would living in 1870 be better in some ways?

When the Lexington caught fire on a trip between Boston and New York City, 

only four of the 143 people aboard survived.

Mississippi River travel, c. 1860.

Flood along the river.

Ugh!!! When it was thought acceptable to display racism.

What are these men discussing? Politics, possibly?

What are these children thinking?

Ideal beauty, c. 1876.

The fruits of intemperance and temperance. 

Below: scenes of New York City and surrounding area.

Long Island.

The bridge was completed in 1869.